JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has formally requested army assistance to support a planned lockdown in Ekurhuleni, as the province intensifies its fight against rising crime and escalating public safety concerns. The urgent measure, set to begin on Thursday, follows the grim discovery of eight women’s bodies dumped across the area, prompting a comprehensive, multi-departmental response to apprehend the perpetrators and restore community confidence.
During an extensive briefing on the state of provincial governance, Premier Lesufi described the situation as a “disturbing trend” that reflects the deep-seated anxieties of South Africans living in the country’s economic hub. To address the crisis, an emergency session was convened yesterday with the Minister of Police, the Minister of Social Development, and the Minister responsible for women to forge an everlasting solution.
“We have agreed that we just have to bring every resource that we have to really find the perpetrators,” Premier Lesufi stated. He emphasized that failing to act would allow fear and anxiety to persist, ultimately eroding public belief in the state’s ability to protect its citizens. The Premier expressed strong conviction in the resolutions reached, confirming that Kempton Park and its surrounding areas will be the primary focus of the lockdown.
Acknowledging the logistical challenges of the operation, Lesufi noted that reallocating resources from other parts of the country is not an easy decision, but a necessary one to prevent the state’s credibility from being challenged. While the military is currently deployed in KwaZulu-Natal to combat Zama Zamas and gangsters, the Premier confirmed that formal requests have been made to redefine their roles and deploy additional support to Gauteng.
The Minister of Police has been mandated to engage directly with the relevant national ministry and the President to finalize the army’s involvement. In the interim, the provincial government has received a wave of voluntary support from the private sector. Private security companies, ICT firms, and cyber space communication specialists have stepped forward to offer their resources and technical expertise to aid the government’s efforts.
Premier Lesufi expressed deep appreciation for this collaborative effort, noting that the willingness of various institutions to volunteer their services demonstrates that the government is not alone in this critical fight for public safety.
“This is what we are calling for: whoever needs to come, we welcome their support,” he concluded, as the province braces for the coordinated security operation.
