SANDF Deployment not a silver bullet to gangs and organised crime crisis
Joint Media Release by Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais
Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, have reiterated that while the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) may provide short-term stabilisation in gang-affected communities, it cannot be viewed as a comprehensive or lasting solution to the deeply entrenched problem of gangsterism and organised crime in the Western Cape and across South Africa.
Minister Marais emphasised that the current crisis is the direct result of years of systemic under-resourcing, inadequate recruitment, and the steady erosion of critical policing capabilities within the SAPS.
“The reality is that SAPS has been stretched beyond its limits. Chronic underfunding, insufficient personnel numbers, and the neglect of specialised units have significantly weakened the state’s ability to respond effectively to organised crime and gang violence,” said Minister Marais.
She stressed that key units such as Crime Intelligence, the Anti-Gang Unit, and Detective Services have not been adequately prioritised or capacitated, undermining efforts to dismantle sophisticated criminal networks and secure successful prosecutions.
Minister Marais added, “Soldiers may assist in restoring a degree of order, but they do not replace the need for a professional, well-resourced, intelligence-led police service. Without urgent structural reform and investment in SAPS, we will continue to fight crime on the back foot.”
“I want to commend and firmly support the brave men and women in uniform who are now taking the fight directly to organised crime and gangsterism under Operation Prosper. We stand behind you as you carry out this critical mission”, Minister Marais concluded.
Premier Winde called on national government and the Acting Minister of Police to urgently prioritise the strengthening of SAPS in the Western Cape. This includes:
- Reinvesting in and expanding crime intelligence to enable proactive and coordinated operations.
- Filling critical vacancies and improving recruitment to bolster visible policing and investigative capacity.
- Restoring and strengthening specialised units dedicated to combating gang and organised crime; and
- Enhancing detective and forensic support to improve conviction rates and ensure justice for victims.
He further reiterated the Western Cape Government’s longstanding call for the expansion of certain policing powers to capable municipalities, particularly in relation to the investigation of gang-related and firearm-related crimes.
“Empowering municipal law enforcement agencies with additional investigative authority would immediately enhance our collective capacity to respond to crime and protect our communities,” Premier Winde added.
Premier Winde has reaffirmed the province’s commitment to working collaboratively with all spheres of government, while standing firm in its position that sustainable safety will only be achieved through meaningful reform and the proper resourcing of SAPS.
“Our communities deserve more than temporary interventions. They deserve a policing system that is capable, credible, and equipped to dismantle criminal networks and uphold the rule of law,” he said.
Communities are key in helping us disarm gangs and dismantle organised crime.
Residents are encouraged to report information anonymously via:
- SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111
- MySAPS Mobile Application
- City of Cape Town Crime Tip-Off Line: 0800 110 077
All information will be treated with strict confidentiality. By working together, we can build safer communities for all.
Media Enquiries:
Regan Thaw
MLO to the Premier
Cell: 083 627 7246
Email: Regan.Thaw@Westerncape.gov.za
Kurt Nefdt
Acting MLO to Minister Anroux Marais
Cell: 084 285 1975
Email: Kurt.Nefdt@westerncape.gov.za