Gauteng Premier Welcomes Establishment of SAPS Specialised Units to Combat Organised Crime

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Gauteng Premier Welcomes Establishment of SAPS Specialised Units to Combat Organised Crime

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : @KASIBC_AUDIO

The Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, has welcomed the establishment of two specialised units by the South African Police Service aimed at addressing high-priority crime threats in the province.

Premier Lesufi said the creation of these units represents an important step in strengthening the fight against organised and violent crime, which continues to threaten communities, businesses and the overall stability of the provincial economy.

Gauteng remains the economic hub of our country and we cannot allow criminal syndicates and organised crime networks to undermine the safety of our residents and the confidence of investors,î said Premier Lesufi.

The establishment of these specialised units demonstrates the seriousness with which law enforcement agencies are approaching the fight against complex and coordinated criminal activities,he said.

The Premier noted that organised crime has evolved significantly in recent years, often involving sophisticated networks responsible for crimes such as illegal mining, infrastructure vandalism, extortion, and other forms of coordinated criminal activity. He emphasised that combating these crimes requires specialised skills, intelligence-driven operations, and strong collaboration between different law-enforcement agencies.

The fight against organised crime requires targeted interventions and specialised capabilities. These units will strengthen the ability of the police to investigate, disrupt and dismantle criminal syndicates operating in our province,he he said.

Premier Lesufi further stressed that reducing crime levels is one of the Gauteng Provincial Governmentís key priorities. The Province continues to work closely with law enforcement agencies and community structures to ensure that residents feel safe in their homes, places of work and public spaces.

The safety of our communities is non-negotiable. We will continue to support law enforcement agencies in their efforts to ensure that criminals are brought to book and that our province becomes safer for everyone,he said the Premier.

The Gauteng Provincial Government will continue to collaborate with the South African Police Service, community policing forums, municipalities and other stakeholders to strengthen crime prevention initiatives and restore public confidence in the justice system.

Premier Lesufi called on communities to work with law enforcement agencies by reporting criminal activities and supporting initiatives aimed at combating crime.

Government alone cannot defeat crime. It requires the collective effort of communities, law enforcement and all sectors of society to build safer neighbourhoods and protect the future of our province, he concluded

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ANC Committee Chair Chooses Lunchbreak over Prisonbreak Accountability

KASIBC_AFRICA 

ANC Committee Chair Chooses Lunchbreak over Prisonbreak Accountability'

CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE_EDITOR 

LISTEN HERE : @KASIBC_AUDIO

 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is outraged over the Select Committee on Security and Justice failing to hold SAPS accountable for detainee escapes.

In the last year alone, 284 detainees have escaped police custody nationally and a hundred of them are still roaming the streets.

Three detainees have escaped from police custody in the Western Cape in just the last two weeks. Ill-discipline and corruption by the SAPS puts escapees back on the streets where they continue to terrorise communities.

The DA had called Western Cape Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Patekile to committee to answer for the growing crisis of escapes on 18 February 2026. Members were not allowed to interrogate the SAPS presentation because committee chairperson Jane Mananiso of the ANC ended the meeting early to have lunch.

Patekile is now allowed to hide behind written responses instead of having to answer questions directly. 

The ANC doesn't care about crime in the Western Cape or about keeping SAPS accountable. They go on lunch while dangerous detainees escape from custody and ravage communities.

Since the meeting, detainees have escaped from Wynberg Court and in Phillipi-East. In Ceres, a SAPS member is alleged to have helped a detainee accused of domestic violence escape custody.

The SAPS blames "administrative errors" and infrastructure pains. The DA refuses to accept these lame excuses and calls on SAPS to address ill-discipline and corruption within its ranks

It is unacceptable that Parliament has lunch while potential criminals escape and communities suffer. The DA will call for the Western Cape Provincial Commissioner to come back to committee and account for systemic failures in the custodial system.

This time the Committee should prioritise accountability, not lunch.

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