NATJOINTS (NATIONAL JOINT OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURE)
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Programme Director;
➢ Senior Officers of the SAPS and SANDF leadership;
➢ Members of the media;
➢ Ladies and Gentleman;
Good afternoon.
Today’s joint briefing between the
South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force represents an important milestone in the strengthening of our collective national response to crime and serious violence in our country.
We meet here not merely to announce an operational deployment, but to reaffirm a fundamental principle, that the authority of the State will always prevail over criminality, intimidation and lawlessness.
South Africans have rightly expressed deep concern about the levels of violent crime, the activities of organised criminal syndicates, and safety concerns in some communities.
These concerns are legitimate, and as the leadership of the JCPS cluster departments, we have taken the responsibility to respond decisively, strategically and with the full capability of the State.
In his recent response to oral questions in Parliament, the President further emphasised that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force in cooperation with the SA Police Service forms part of a broader national effort to confront organised criminal networks, deal with crime, stabilise affected communities and restore public confidence in law enforcement.
Guided by this directive, President has authorised the deployment of the South African National Defence Force in cooperation with the South African Police Service under
Operation PROSPER.
This deployment spans a period of 13 months, with over 2 000 members of the SANDF deployed across the country. The intervention will focus on the hotpots areas which includes and not limited to,
Free State,
Gauteng, North - West,
Western Cape and the Eastern Cape — areas that have been identified through intelligence and crime analysis as being significantly affected by criminal activity.
The purpose of this intervention is to provide space to the SA Police Service to deal with both street crime and to disrupt, disable and dismantle organised crime groupings through a coordinated operational framework where the SANDF and SAPS will work together to stabilise crime-affected
areas, and restore the rule of law in communities where criminal networks have sought to undermine the authority of the State.
South Africa today faces complex organised-crime threats that extend beyond conventional criminal activity.
In the Free State, Gauteng and North - West, sophisticated illicit mining criminal groups continue to exploit abandoned and active mining infrastructure, generating enormous illicit financial flows, fuelling violence between gangs and rival groups, damaging essential infrastructure and contributing to environmental degradation.
At the same time,
gang-related violence in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng continues to drive high levels of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and illegal firearm proliferation, devastating communities and trapping many young people in cycles of violence.
These criminal dynamics are not isolated. They are interconnected and often linked to illegal migration, illicit firearms trafficking,
corruption networks and attacks on essential infrastructure.
The scale, sophistication and persistence of these criminal activities have resulted in this extraordinary and integrated response by government.
Ladies and gentlemen. This is precisely what this joint deployment seeks to achieve.
The SANDF will cooperate with the SAPS through coordinated operational deployments, enhanced visibility, and stabilisation measures in identified hotspots. Importantly, these operations will remain intelligence-led, constitutionally compliant and conducted under established command structures.
Operational coordination will be managed through the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, commonly known as NATJOINTS, which will ensure seamless coordination between security agencies, government departments and provincial operational structures.
This structure will enable intelligence-led planning, coordinated deployment and real-time operational oversight.
Joint Operational Centres have been established to ensure seamless cooperation between SAPS, SANDF and other law enforcement agencies. This will ensure that all interventions are lawful, proportionate and strategically targeted.
The objectives of this joint deployment are clear and measurable.Firstly, to stabilise priority crime hotspots where organised criminal networks have entrenched themselves.
Secondly, to disrupt and dismantle syndicates those involved in illicit mining and gang violence.
Thirdly, to restore law, order and peace in affected communities, ensuring that residents are able to live without fear.
Fourthly, to reclaim territory that has been controlled or influenced by criminal networks and firmly reassert the authority of the State.
And finally, to reduce serious and violent crime levels through sustained enforcement and intelligence-driven operations.
Members of the media, allow me to assure South Africans that this intervention is already underway.
The initial deployment in parts of the country has commenced and is progressing well, with joint operational teams already working together on targeted enforcement operations and area stabilisation activities.
At the same time, the final phase of the joint mission readiness training, continues, and thereafter deployment will be expanded accordingly.
During this phase operational matters such as rules of engagement, communication procedures and base standing orders are finalised.
This preparation ensures that members are equipped to operate effectively within a cooperative operational framework.
As these operations unfold, the public will see increased coordinated visibility of security forces, targeted operations against illicit mining activities, intensified and robust actions against gang networks, and strengthened protection of essential infrastructure.
However, it is important to emphasise that this intervention is not only about enforcement.
It is about restoring stability, rebuilding trust between communities and law enforcement, and creating safer conditions for social and economic development.
Success will therefore be measured not only in arrests or confiscations, but in the reduction of violence, the disruption of criminal networks and the restoration of community confidence.
To the communities affected by these crimes, we have heard your concerns, we understand your frustrations, and we are committed to restoring safety and stability in your neighbourhoods
To the members of the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force who will be participating in this deployment, you carry the responsibility of protecting our democracy and safeguarding our people. The country expects the highest standards of professionalism, discipline and respect for the Constitution.
In closing, members of the media, let me reiterate that public safety is a shared national priority. The fight against crime cannot be won by law enforcement alone. It requires partnership with communities, cooperation across government institutions, and sustained national commitment.
This joint deployment represents a decisive step in strengthening that commitment.
Working together, we will dismantle criminal networks, reclaim our communities from violence and lawlessness, and restore the sense of safety and dignity that every South African deserves.
WE THANK YOU.
NATJOINTS (NATIONAL JOINT OPERATIONAL AND INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURE)
