Cape Town – Chairpersons of Parliament’s peace and security cluster committees have endorsed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in high-crime areas, describing it as a necessary short- to medium-term measure amid escalating violence that threatens national stability.
The committees emphasised that while the military’s involvement can provide essential reinforcement, it cannot substitute for traditional policing functions. They expressed optimism that effective collaboration between the SANDF and SAPS could deliver meaningful outcomes, provided efforts remain sharply focused on dismantling organised crime networks, including those involved in gang violence, illegal mining, and related activities.
The intervention comes as South Africa grapples with severe crime levels, with speakers highlighting that over 26,000 South Africans are killed annually by criminal elements—equating to approximately 80 deaths per day. This toll exceeds casualty figures reported in some war-torn regions like Gaza, underscoring a shared national threat that demands a unified response.
Committee members voiced concerns over early coordination challenges in the deployment process. They criticised the slow and poorly coordinated preparations by senior management in both the SAPS and SANDF, as well as the imprecise execution of some initial search and seizure operations, which lacked the expected level of accuracy and efficiency.
Despite these issues, the committees agreed that the deployment must remain temporary to avoid any perception of imposing military rule over the country’s democratically elected government.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, stressed the urgent need for accountability across the justice and security cluster. He pointed to revelations from processes such as the Zondo Commission (often referred to in context as exposing corruption) and the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into policing challenges, which have laid bare systemic problems. Cameron warned that uncovering these truths alone is insufficient—decisive action, real consequences, and meaningful reforms are essential. Without them, he said, public trust in the SAPS and the broader security apparatus will continue to erode, further undermining credibility.
On the ground, joint operational preparations between the SAPS and SANDF are progressing in anticipation of fuller deployment to identified crime hotspots next month. The overall operation, known as Operation Prosper, targets provinces including Gauteng, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and North West, with a focus on gangsterism and illegal mining. Over 2,000 SANDF members are involved in the year-long effort, authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The parliamentary oversight bodies reiterated their role in monitoring the deployment to ensure it supports rather than supplants civilian policing, while calling for sustained reforms to address root causes of crime and restore effective law enforcement.