Case Explained: Deployment of soldiers is to reinforce rule of law: Masemola – SABC News – Legal Perspective

National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola says the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) alongside police aims to stabilise priority crime hotspot areas in the country.

Masemola and SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya held a joint media briefing in Pretoria following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy soldiers to crime-affected provinces.

Masemola says gang-related violence in the Western Cape and Gauteng continues to drive high levels of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and the proliferation of illegal firearms.

He says authorities are determined to restore law, order and peace in affected communities, and ensure that residents are able to live without fear.

“The deployment of both the SANDF and the South African Police Service stabilising hotspot areas whilst the teams of organised crime will then have enough chance to infiltrate and do investigation in the targeted areas where the world complex organised crime that are in those specific areas. In the Free State, Gauteng and North West, as you are aware, they are sophisticated illicit mining criminal groupings that continue to exploit abundant and active mining infrastructure, generating enormous illicit financial flows, feeding violence between gangs and rival groups, damaging essential infrastructure and contributing to environmental degradation. As you are aware that they use a lot of water, and in some cases, or in most cases, they do steal this water in the same time. Gang-related violence in the Western Cape and Gauteng continue to drive high levels of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and legal firearm proliferation. Devastating communities and trapping many young people in cycle of violence. These criminal dynamics are not isolated, they are interconnected and offending to illegal migration, illicit farm trafficking, corruption networks and attack on essential infrastructure. Scale, sophistication and persistence of these criminal activities have resulted in extraordinary and integrated response by government.”

SAPS and SANDF joint Media briefing

The President authorised the deployment of over 2000 soldiers on Friday after announcing the deployment in his State of the Nation address last month.

The SANDF members will assist police in their fight against crime including gangsterism and illegal mining.