Calvin Dludla 1 hour ago News 2 Views
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says the deployment of soldiers to crime hotspots in the country will provide space for the South African Police Service (SAPS) to disrupt, disable and dismantle organised crime groupings involved in illegal mining and gang violence.
He was speaking during a joint media briefing by the SAPS and the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) in Pretoria.
Masemola says the 13-month long deployment dubbed ‘Operation Prosper’ will see over 2000 SANDF members deployed to crime hotspots across the country, including in Gauteng, Free State, North-West, Western Cape and the Eastern Cape.
VIDEO | SAPS and SANDF joint Media briefing
Turf war
Masemola began by refuting claims of a turf war between the army and the police regarding the deployment of troops to crime hotspots across the country. He told the media that operations between the SAPS and the SANDF were seamless.
“They are working seamlessly together, both SAPS and the SANDF. If there are any elements that are not cooperating, we will deal with them through disciplinary processes. We should not treat this as if it is the first time that the SANDF and the police are working together. They have previously worked together on Operation Vala Umgodi. So, it is not something new at all, and even now we do not foresee any problems with the two working together,” says Masemola.
Witness D
South Africa’s top cop thanked the police for the breakthrough made in arresting a suspect in connection with the murder of Marius van der Merwe also known as Witness D in the Madlanga Commission. Van der Merwe was shot and killed in front of his family outside his home in Brakpan in December last year. This was days after testifying about corruption and a murder cover-up involving high-ranking Ekurhuleni Metro police officials.
Masemola says police are still searching for another suspect.
“The investigation is continuing, so at this stage we are not able to say much. One of the suspects is still being hunted, and as the investigation progresses we will be able to indicate what more there is. I think it is safe to say that. As to whether it is linked to giving evidence, I cannot say that at this point. The investigators will be able to say more about that in court, including what the exact motive was. What I do know is that those involved were linked to other crimes, and the investigation indicates that the person we have arrested is the one responsible for the killing of Witness D,” he says.
‘Threats to lives will not be tolerated’
The Chief of the Army Rudzani Maphwanya says threats to South Africans’ lives will not be tolerated any longer. Maphwanya says soldiers will confront any criminal element that threatens security in the country without fear.
“We have seen too much lives lost. And one life is one more than enough and we are not going to tolerate any further escalation of any criminal activity that will take our people’s lives. We are not going to allow those who do not have the right to carry arms, to terrorise our people. And we will carry those arms and if you challenge us, we will show those criminal elements that this is the state and we are going to enforce by any means the law of order.”
He assures the nation that there will be no incidents of assaults by soldiers or the harrassing of civilians, adding that the army was there to protect the public and not the other way round. This after previous allegations of the soldiers use of force against communities. The Army General has warned that criminals that the soldiers will act decisively to protect communities.
“We are going out there in defence of our people and to help combat crime. That is what we will be assisting with. We are not going there to harass our people. The only people who will feel harassed are the criminal elements. We are ready, and we are going there for those criminals, not to harass our people,” says SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of over two-thousand soldiers to areas in Gauteng, the Western- and Eastern Cape, Northwest and the Free State to combat escalating gang violence and illicit mining in the country.
LIVE | National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and SANDF Chief Rudzani Maphwanya hold a joint briefing in Pretoria following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s deployment of soldiers to crime-affected provinces. pic.twitter.com/esLQfeMG6W
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 15, 2026
Maphwanya says they are now busy preparing to operate day and night. This is after concerns from communities that the army only deployed during the day and not at night when crime is at it highest and most severe.
“We are currently busy with one operation, and we are now deploying the second phase of the operation. In this phase, you will see additional numbers coming in, and those additional numbers will also mean extended hours. We are not only going to deal with criminal elements during the day. If they are active at night, you will see us at night. We do not have exact times for patrolling, we will be there day and night,” says Maphwanya.
Masemola also assured communities affected by crime that the police will do all in their power to restore safety and ensure stability in their neighbourhoods.
Dr Lennit Max on SANDF deployment
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/saps-and-sandf-launch-operation-prosper-to-combat-organised-crime/
