Soldiers will return to the crime-ridden Cape Flats to support police in ongoing efforts to curb gang violence, President Cyril Ramaphosa, wearing his SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Commander-in-Chief hat, told guests and South Africa as a whole during his 12th State of the Nation Address (SONA).
The relevant portion of his address reads: “To strengthen our fight against gang violence, I am deploying the SANDF to support the police, as we did to great effect with illegal mining”.
Acting Police Minister (Firoz Cachalia) will, together with unnamed SANDF senior officers, develop a tactical plan as to where “our security forces should be deployed in the next few days in the Western Cape and Gauteng [provinces] to deal with gang violence and illegal mining”. Ramaphosa made no mention of the Free State, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Northern Cape provinces where zama-zamas have been and are still active.
Parliament, in the form of the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will be informed of “the timing, place of deployment” and cost Ramaphosa told those on hand to hear his 100 minute plus SONA in the Cape Town City Hall on Thursday 12 February.
The deployment will in all probability follow the same pattern as the first utilisation of soldiers to combat gang violence on the Cape Flats in 2017. Then, soldiers and support personnel from Western Cape regiments and units provided perimeter security while police conducted search, seizure and arrest operations. An initial two-month deployment was, with Presidential approval, extended for a further six months.
Units that will probably be deployed for this tasking include 9 SA Infantry (SAI) Battalion, the Cape Town Highlanders and the Chief Langalibalele, General Jan Smuts and Gonnema regiments. Other Western Cape regiments and units which could feature in the upcoming Cape Flats deployment are the Cape Field and Nelson Mandela artillery regiments, Autshumato Anti-aircraft Regiment, Ihawu and 3 Field engineer regiments as well as Regiment Oranjerivier.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi welcomed the deployment of the SANDF to the province to support police in the fight against criminality, especially illegal mining.
“Illegal mining has become a serious criminal enterprise that threatens the safety of our communities, exploits vulnerable people, and causes extensive environmental damage. The deployment of soldiers to assist the police demonstrates government’s commitment to restoring law and order and protecting communities,” Lesufi said in a statement on Friday.
The scourge of illegal mining has cost the South African economy billions of Rands in lost economic revenue and, in some areas, contributed to escalating violence.
Last week, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety noted an incident in which an alleged zama-zama (illegal miner) was shot and wounded during night-time gunfire in Bekkersdal. The committee added that the presence of illegal miners has also contributed to a surge in kidnappings in the area.
Protecting SA’s borders
Also on the President’s national security to-do SONA list and not directly affecting Lieutenant General Lawrence Mbatha’s SA Army but treading on the border protection tasking Operation Corona is the threat posed by infiltration of illegal and counterfeit goods to South African jobs and industry.
To counter this, a national illicit economy disruption programme bringing together key state agencies and other stakeholders, including the private sector, will be set up. Effective use, according to the South African supremo, of data analytics and AI (artificial intelligence), will target high-risk sectors including tobacco, fuel, alcohol and other counterfeit products.
Every month soldiers confiscate millions of Rand worth of illicit cigarettes, alcohol and contraband ranging from fake branded clothing and footwear to pharmaceuticals from drug mules and smugglers whilst on Operation Corona border protection duties.
“Funding to strengthen border security will be prioritised, covering infrastructure, technology and people. Key border posts will be redeveloped through public-private partnerships and we will extend the Electronic Travel Authorisation to all international airports and the busiest land ports of entry,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.
Ramaphosa noted that drones and other technology are already being used to great effect all along border lines.
“Employers that hire foreign nationals without the required visas will face the full might of the law. To tighten enforcement, we will hire an additional 10 000 labour inspectors this year,” the President said.
He emphasised that government will address illegal immigration while ensuring that the fundamental human rights of every person in this country are upheld and protected.
The police, Home Affairs and labour inspectors will work together to crack down on violations of existing immigration, labour and other laws.
“As we undertake these interventions, we insist that the laws of our country must be observed by everyone. We will not tolerate violence and other acts of lawlessness directed at foreign nationals.
He further spoke out against foreign nationals being barred from accessing public facilities, including schools.
“No foreign national should be unlawfully barred from accessing public facilities, including schools and health facilities,” the President said.
With regard to strengthening the fight against crime, Ramaphosa said the government is implementing an integrated strategy to address the root causes of crime through coordinated interventions across society, from street lighting to access to social services.
“We are going to tackle gun crime by streamlining legislation and regulations on licencing, possessing and trading in firearms and ammunition. We will increase enforcement of existing gun laws.
“We are putting more boots on the ground through the recruitment this year of 5 500 additional police officers, adding to the 20 000 new officers we announced in previous State of the Nation Addresses,” the President said.
Ramaphosa took office in February 2018 following his unopposed election as African National Congress (ANC) president and South African President when Jacob Zuma resigned. The number of SONAs delivered is more than years in office due to two addresses in election years.
