South Africa's Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said the police cannot yet defeat deadly gangs. Gang violence and robberies cause many murders. South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates. Cachalia said the gangs are more complex now, especially in Eastern and Western Cape. “I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs,” he told journalists on Wednesday. The country has long battled organized crime. Many citizens own licensed guns, but illegal weapons are widespread. Police data shows 63 people died daily from April to September last year. After visiting crime-heavy Nelson Mandela Bay in Eastern Cape, Cachalia called the gangs a "killing spree". "We had a discussion about organised crime in Eastern Cape, including extortion rackets, gang violence and related issues," said the minister. "I indicated that this is a grave problem throughout the country, that these cartels wield significant wealth and power, and that this is deeply concerning." Despite creating an anti-gang unit in 2019, Cachalia said gangsters seem to be winning. "Establishing gang units from time to time is an ad hoc response to a growing problem. I really don't think that we should be approaching this matter in a point-scoring way." He added police are trying their best but the problem is growing. Nelson Mandela Bay saw 118 people killed between August and December last year. The killings continue, with about 40 deaths in January. Around three million legal guns and a similar number of illegal firearms circulate in the 63 million population, said Gideon Joubert from the South African Gunowners' Association. Last month, 11 people died in a mass shooting linked to illegal mining turf wars near Johannesburg. Another attack two weeks earlier in Pretoria killed 11, including a child. Gunmen killed eight at a Durban tavern last May. President Cyril Ramaphosa promised stronger police action and more deployment to fight gang violence.