SANDF’s strategic plan to combat gangs and illegal mining

The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, emphasised that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is not a quick fix for the nation’s crime challenges. The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, has stated that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will not be a magic bullet for the country’s crime issues. Cachalia highlighted that extensive training is currently underway, which, once complete, will lead to a strategic rollout set to last until 31 March 2027.

Cachalia, alongside the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, addressed a joint meeting between the Portfolio Committee on Police and the Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources,on the deployment of the SANDFin support of SAPS operations. The committees heard that the deployment of the SANDF is authorised under Section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, and Section 19(3)(c)(ii) of the Defence Act, Act 42 of 2002. Masemola said that the SANDF will not be deployed across the whole country, but to certain hotspots.

The hotspots have been identified as Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, North West, and Free State. The hotspots where the SANDF is expected to be deployed