National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that joint security operations are now active across parts of South Africa to combat rising crime, with members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployed to identified hotspot areas.
Speaking at a joint briefing with the South African Police Service (SAPS), SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya said the initiative is aimed at stabilising communities, protecting residents, and curbing criminal activity, noting that too many lives have already been lost to violent crime in the country.
Masemola said more than 2,000 soldiers will work alongside SAPS officers as part of the operation, which is expected to run for 13 months until the end of March 2027.
The deployment is projected to cost approximately R823 million.
However, some experts have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the intervention.
Speaking to Voice of the Cape News, Jean Redpath from the Dullah Omar Institute said that while the cost may appear high, it reflects the scale of resources required for such operations.
“R823 million sounds like a lot of money, but when it’s spread over a year and you see how many people are involved, the costs mount very quickly,” Redpath said.
She added that while addressing the root causes of crime remains critical, stabilising violent areas is often a necessary first step.
“When things are so violent and unstable, social workers don’t want to go into the areas where they need to work. Services like repairing streetlights may also be delayed because workers require police escorts,” she explained.
Redpath noted that communities first need a basic level of safety and effective policing before broader social interventions can take place.
“That is where SAPS has really failed us,” she said.
Authorities say the deployment forms part of broader efforts to restore stability in high-crime areas while longer-term solutions to crime and community safety continue to be explored.
Listen to the full intervie with Dr Jean Redpath below:
VOC News
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