More than 2,000 soldiers to be deployed to fight crime in SA-LNN

National Police Commissioner General Fanny Masemola said state authority will prevail over crime and lawlessness as the government steps up its fight against organized crime through the deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to support police operations.

Speaking at a joint media briefing at the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) coordination center in Pretoria yesterday, Masemola said the joint intervention with the South African Police Service (SAPS) is an important step towards strengthening the country's response against violent crime and organized criminal networks.

Masemola was addressing a joint media briefing with SANDF chief General Rudzani Mafwanya as well as NATJOINTS co-chairs Lieutenant-General Tebelo Mosikili and Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the deployment of SANDF members under Operation Prosper, which will see more than 2,000 soldiers work with police over a 13-month period.

The intervention will focus on crime hotspots in several provinces including the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.

“Through intelligence and crime analysis these areas have been identified as being significantly affected by criminal activity

“This intervention aims to provide the police with the space to tackle street crime and disrupt, disable and dismantle organized crime groups through a coordinated operational framework, where the SANDF and police will work together to stabilize crime affected areas, and restore the rule of law in communities where criminal networks have sought to undermine the authority of the state,” Masemola said.

Tackling illegal mining and gang violence

He said South Africa faces complex organized crime threats that are destabilizing communities.

In provinces such as the Free State, Gauteng and the North West, organized criminal groups involved in illegal mining continue to exploit abandoned and active mining infrastructure, generating illicit financial flows and fueling violence between rival groups.

At the same time, gang-related violence in the Western and Eastern Cape and parts of Gauteng has contributed to high levels of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

“These criminal dynamics are not isolated. They are interconnected and often linked to illegal migration, illegal firearms trafficking, corruption networks and attacks on essential infrastructure.

“The scale, sophistication and persistence of these criminal activities has resulted in this extraordinary and unified response by the government. This is exactly what this joint deployment seeks to achieve,” he said.

coordinated national response

Masemola said that through coordinated operations, the SANDF will assist the police with increased visibility, targeted enforcement and stabilization measures in identified hotspots.

Operational coordination will be managed through NATJOINTS, which will monitor intelligence-based planning and ensure cooperation between security agencies and government departments.

Joint operations centers have also been established to facilitate coordination between the police, SANDF and other law enforcement agencies.

“The objectives of this joint deployment are clear – to stabilize priority crime hotspots, dismantle organized criminal syndicates, restore law and order and reclaim communities from criminal networks,” Masemola said.

Restoring security in communities

He said South Africans will see increased visibility of security forces, intensified operations against illegal mining and gang activities, and strengthened protection of critical infrastructure.

However, Masemola stressed that the intervention is not only about law enforcement, but also about restoring stability and rebuilding trust between communities and the state.

“Success will therefore be measured not only in arrests or seizures, but also in reduction of violence, disruption of criminal networks and restoration of community trust,” he said.

Masemola called on communities to work with law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime, stressing that public safety is a shared national responsibility.

“Working together, we will dismantle criminal networks, protect our communities from violence and lawlessness, and restore the sense of security and dignity that every South African deserves.”

Masemola called on parents and guardians to take greater responsibility for the behavior of their children amid growing concerns about youths being involved in crime, especially those under the age of 13. – SAnews.gov.za

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