Cape ghost squad spooks speedsters
● Speeding Cape Town motorcyclists on superbikes have met their match. High-speed additions to the city’s “ghost squad” are helping traffic cops catch illegal street racers and motorcyclists.
“Members of the squad went for advanced driving training so they are able to handle the vehicles safely at high speeds,” said mayoral committee member for safety & security JP Smith. Three motorcyclists were recently arrested after a high-speed chase on the N1.
The council’s safety & security director, Richard Bosman, would not reveal details of the squad’s 15 new vehicles, but said they were “fast enough”.
“They have improved reaction time, with improved efficiency in pursuing speeding road users. The vehicles have great handling capabilities and blend in with other high-performance vehicles.
“Ghost squad officers are very well trained and have done the necessary advanced driver training at various facilities. Advanced training taught the officers to have a better understanding of their own capabilities and that of their vehicle,” said Bosman.
“Many drivers who thought they will race away from these vehicles were pursued and apprehended.”
Smith said the vehicles were part of a range of hitech equipment traffic cops had started using. “This includes the rollout of CCTV, dashboard cameras and body cameras,” he said.
“We’ve been experimenting with the body-camera technology since 2016, learning from technological challenges with the first ones acquired. The intention is to make them standard equipment in vehicles and on officers, budget permitting.
“Unfortunately, this technology comes at a price and so we have not been in a position to equip all our staff yet. The technology will certainly be useful for investigative purposes, but also to safeguard staff as well as the public.”
He said camera footage had helped in a number of investigations. “In terms of making footage available, the city has done so in several instances, to highlight the work of the ghost squad and emphasise the extent of reckless and negligent driving that the officers have to contend with.
“We have also released CCTV footage showing smash-and-grab hotspots as part of our education and awareness efforts. Footage can, however, only be made public where any investigation or criminal matter pertaining to the incident or incidents captured has been concluded.”