SANDF ready to support police in crime hotspots, says Deputy Minister Holomisa
Deputy Minister Bantu Holomisa says the SANDF is ready to support police in tackling gangsterism and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng, awaiting operational requests from SAPS.
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The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is ready to support police in combating gangsterism and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Bantu Holomisa, said.
In an interview with SABC, Holomisa explained that the President announced the deployment last Thursday, and the SANDF is now awaiting specific requests from Parliament and the South African Police Service (SAPS) regarding which areas require military assistance.
“We are ready, we are just waiting for those issues to be addressed by them,” he said.
He said the number of soldiers to be deployed would depend on police requirements, but confirmed that the SANDF has sufficient personnel and equipment.
“For this, we wait for the police to tell us how many people they would like to be assisted with. But normally, you look at a brigade or a company that would do such work. But soldiers, we have enough personnel and equipment, and we are ready. So I cannot be in a position to mislead you on that,” Holomisa added.
The Deputy Minister emphasised that the SANDF’s role would be strictly supportive. Soldiers will work alongside the police in joint operation centres to assist with patrolling, searches, and arrests when requested.
“The Defence Force has no powers to arrest, but we have a duty to assist the police as and when they request us,” he said.
Holomisa also addressed concerns about over-militarisation, stressing that discipline and clarity of mission will be enforced.
Troops will be briefed to avoid past mistakes, such as heavy-handed actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, and instructed to operate closely with police rather than independently, he said.
“When orders are issued by the commanders on the ground to those troops who will be deployed in these areas, the commanders will insist that the discipline must be held in highest standard and that the deployed soldiers must stick to their mission.
''Their mission is to assist the police. They have to work closely with the police on the ground, not just loitering alone there without the police presence,” he said.
Acknowledging mixed reactions in communities, particularly in the Cape Flats, Holomisa said long-term success requires coordinated intelligence and police operations.
“There will have to be some concurrent activities which would take place outside the soldiers, who you see in the streets.
''Such concurrent activities would include, among others, the briefing offered by the police, state intelligence agencies, as to who are the perpetrators of this. Some people must be arrested. Those who are living in luxury life in the Kemps Bay and other areas must be arrested,” he said.
Regarding possible deployments to other provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Holomisa said that requests must follow official channels.
“If there are requests from other areas, they must be submitted to the President, and the Minister of Police will table them in the National Security Council. We have to deal with this crime once and for all, throughout the country,” he said.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
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