Gauteng safety committee backs SAPS crackdown on organised crime
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has expressed strong support for the establishment of two dedicated units aimed at tackling high-risk criminal activities.
This comes in response to the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) plan to set up specialised investigative units in Gauteng to address increasingly sophisticated and coordinated crime trends.
The decision comes amid growing concern over violent crime trends, including kidnappings, extortion, and targeted killings.
Last week, Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni presented the third quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year to the committee.
The period, which covered October to December 2025, revealed that 10 police officers were murdered in Gauteng within just three months.
Mthombeni reported that four of the officers were killed while on duty, while six were killed off duty.
Committee Chairperson Bandile Masuku said the murder of police officers represents a broader assault on the authority of the state.
“The murder of a police officer is not only an attack on an individual, but a direct attack on the rule of law and the authority of the state. Those who commit such heinous crimes must face the full might of the law,” said Masuku.
The first unit will investigate political assassinations and politically motivated killings of government officials.
Masuku explained that the unit will follow a model similar to the Political Killings Task Team.
The second unit will focus on kidnappings, extortion, and criminal activities linked to infrastructure projects, crimes that have increasingly become associated with organised criminal networks.
Masuku said targeted investigative capacity is critical in responding to these crimes.
“Kidnappings, often linked to organised criminal networks and extortion schemes, have become a significant threat to communities, businesses and public officials,” he said.
The Committee believes the creation of specialised units demonstrates a clear commitment by SAPS to strengthen law enforcement and respond decisively to complex criminal threats.
“The establishment of these specialised units signals a firm commitment by SAPS to confront violent crime head-on and to restore public confidence in law enforcement,” Masuku added.
While welcoming the move, Masuku emphasised that strong oversight will remain essential to ensure the new units are properly resourced and coordinated.
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