The Constitution is the foundation of this country’s law. It is one of the finest legal documents ever written and we are justly proud of it.

The Bill of Rights applies to every person in the country, saint and sinner. That includes Thabo Bester.

Bester is a murderer, rapist, fraud and con-artist. But his rights and the rights of other people like him in South African prisons are protected by the Constitution, as they must be.

Section 35 of the Constitution says that every prisoner has the right to “conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity, including at least exercise and the provision, at state expense, of adequate accommodation, nutrition, reading material and medical treatment”.

Bester and several hundred other prisoners are being kept alone in small cells 23 hours a day, with only an hour to exercise.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime published minimum rules for keeping prisoners. These are known as the Mandela Rules. They define solitary confinement as “the confinement of prisoners for 22 hours or more a day without meaningful human contact”. It may only be imposed in exceptional circumstances. Keeping someone in these conditions for 15 consecutive days is considered torture.

The Jali Commission in 2005 found that solitary confinement “is a product of our past and should not be resorted to as a norm by prison officials in the new democratic order”. The Commission found that “it is commonly accepted that solitary confinement is one of the worst forms of torture that can be imposed on another human being”. The Commission also found no scientific evidence to justify keeping people in these conditions.

Without meaningful human contact, and often without a way to keep the time, prisoners lose track of the days of the week. Their mental and physical health deteriorates. An inspection by the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services of Ebongweni prison in 2021, found all the prisoners in isolation were on antidepressants. (See also The Impacts of Solitary Confinement.)

One does not have to have sympathy for Bester. Some of his many victims no doubt wish him the worst, understandably so. But the Constitution is unequivocal: everyone must be treated with dignity and not to be tortured. Upholding the Constitution, even for people we dislike, is the way to achieve a less violent, more humane society.

The prisoners being kept in these conditions are for the most part extremely dangerous. The state has to keep them in prison to protect everyone else’s rights. But prisoners’ rights should not be restricted more than necessary.

We degrade our society if we allow the state to torture people. Once we start accepting that human rights are for some but not for others, we start a descent into inhumanity.

The law in a constitutional democracy, the best type of state yet invented, is there to protect all of us from unrestrained state vengeance. It applies to you and me. And it even applies to awful people like Thabo Bester.

This article was reposted with permission from GroundUp. The original article can be found here.

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“Getting into gangs is easy, but getting out is impossible” is another popular saying in Cape Town’s gang-affected neighbourhoods. It also gives the impression that gang membership inevitably ends violently. That’s seemingly confirmed by murder statistics showing an average of two gang-related deaths in and around Cape Town every day.

Much has been written about gangs in the city. Researchers have described, for example, how gangsterism found its origins in the institutionalised violence and social disorder imposed by white supremacy under apartheid. Scholars have also written about how gang membership offers opportunities – self-protection, income and dignity – in areas where the post-apartheid state fails to provide adequate development and governance. But there is a lack of writing on gang exit in Cape Town. This reinforces the idea that gangsterism is a death sentence.

But gangsters do get out. As a social scientist I write about this in my book Gang Entry and Exit in Cape Town.

The book is based on the life histories of 24 former gang members, as well as hundreds of hours of additional interviews and observations from years of research. It shows that male and female gangsters – some trapped in gangs, substance abuse, prison, and extreme violence for over a decade – turn to family, work and religion when trying to get out.

The redemptive role of religion, especially, is central for those trying to trade street life for “normal life”.

Patrick

About 97% of South Africans declare some form of religious affiliation. The vast majority are Christian. Current and former gang participants are among the believers.

Religious membership can promote positive social networks, offer guidance for repairing relationships, and give social support and acceptance. Importantly, my research shows that spirituality also offers ex-gangsters a model for handling conflict, as well as a way to convince others – especially other gang members – that their change can be trusted.

Take Patrick (29), a former member of the Laughing Boys. Patrick used to believe that “the more people you hurt, the more people fear you”. Now he thinks differently:

I started attending church more often, reading my Bible, I helped out (at) home. With that I also learned a little bit of humility towards other people and not just to care about myself as much.

He describes how he would put on the performance of a kerk broer (church brother) when walking past his former gang brothers with a Bible, a kind word, and a deferential demeanour. This is essential to remind them of his exit from gangs, just as wearing silver chains and sneakers, speaking in slang, stabbing and shooting used to show people that he was a real gangster – not to be messed with.

Patrick admits that religion is not only about piety. It is also about performance:

I want my change to be visible, to be known by everybody that I’m not that type of person anymore.

Stigma and distrust of ex-gangsters is a key stumbling block along the journey towards gang exit. The hope is that if he can walk the righteous path for long enough, people’s memories of Patrick the Laughing Boy will be replaced by an acceptance of Patrick the church brother.

Getting to that point is not without peril, though. Like most participants in this study, poverty and limited social networks keep him trapped in the community he grew up in – and within striking distance of other gangsters. One day he was ambushed and almost assassinated by a former foe. He told me:

He didn’t have a gun fortunately, that day he wanted to kill me. I actually came from church on a Sunday walking with my Bible. He jumped out his car and said: You taking chances to even f-ing walk here … So your past can come back to haunt you.

Emerson

Emerson (43) had been part of Cape Town’s biggest gang, The Americans, for over 20 years. He served 16 separate stints in prison, mainly for violent crimes. He said:

If we get into an argument I won’t still finish talking, I will pull out my gun or knife.

Emerson now leans heavily on scripture to guide his disengagement process, and in particular to deal with conflict without violence. He described, for instance, a robbery attempt:

He’s standing over me with this brick. And I’m thinking that this guy is going to hit me … I just relied on God. His word says, ‘No weapon formed against you shall prosper.’ The Bible tells you about meekness.

Emerson also knew that playing the pious man meant showing the outside world his commitment to non-violence was real – even if meant getting hurt.

I cannot operate like I used to if I get into situations like with that robber. Because people are watching to see how I react. The gangs are watching. I knew I had to resist and forgive this guy.

As luck would have it, the attacker stalked off, likely surprised by his would-be victim’s passive reaction. But Emerson was left conflicted:

When I walked away, that’s when it started. I thought: how can I let that guy do that? Does this guy know who I am in the (gangs)? It was very hard. I started crying also, thinking that this thing happened and I did nothing.

Emerson had to fight off two threats that day. First the robbery and then this emotional reaction to it. This almost pushed him towards revenge, seeking “blood for blood” as gangsters are expected to do.

Like others in this book, Emerson didn’t experience gang exit as a single decision to change. It was a long, continuous confluence of deliberation, doubt, hope, introspection, trauma and resolution, which tangled together in complicated and sometimes contradictory ways. Eventually he got to the point where he was more out of gangs than in.

Of course, leaving gangs is a precarious process that gives no guarantee of safety. So Emerson and others took what precautions they could. Along with work and family, turning to religion gave them the best chance to stay alive until their family and neighbours accepted them, gang-mates forgot about them, and beefs with their rivals waned – showing that leaving gangs in Cape Town is difficult, but not impossible.

Written by Dariusz Dziewanski, Honorary research affiliate, Centre of Criminology, University of Cape Town.

Republished with permission from The Conversation. The original article can be found here.

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What’s the difference between the two countries’ approaches?

About 9 out of 10 ex-offenders reoffend in South Africa. Expressed as a percentage of 90% of the prison population of roughly 260,000 at any one point in time, this is one of the highest and most unsustainable in the world.

The US has a rate of recidivism of around 67% while China, an authoritarian country where mass executions of recidivists are the norm, has a rate between 6% and 8%.

In Finland, a liberal democracy, the rate is a very acceptable 31%.

The primary cause of reoffending in South Africa appears to be the state’s unwillingness or inability to clear up areas of conflict in society which either breed criminality or fuel reoffending. Examples of these are inequality (a breeding ground for violent crimes), poverty in an otherwise affluent society, chronic unemployment and government practices that marginalise and stigmatise people.

Not only has the state failed to keep citizens safe from preventable crime and harm, but politicians have also used the issue to campaign on a “tough on crime” ticket.

South Africa also has a harsh stigmatising shaming culture, as opposed to an integrative shaming culture, when it comes to people convicted of crimes. In a stigmatising shaming culture, ex-offenders often experience discrimination and ostracisation. This drives them away from mainstream culture and its values and towards criminal subcultures. The US has a similar culture.

In an integrative shaming culture, ex-offenders are encouraged to reintegrate into society. They are provided with employment and other opportunities to ease their transition into mainstream society. China and Japan are examples of this.

This approach is also widespread in African cultures, such as those found in Mali, Kenya and even Nigeria. The reason for this? In most African countries with a history of colonialism, a connection has been established between imprisonment and slavery.

Significantly, the leading Australian comparative criminologist John Braithwaite has argued that stigma is “counter-productive” and fuels reoffending.

Though recidivism (reoffending) is a significant problem in criminology, there are no easy answers on how to fix it. The problem is both complex and nuanced.

Alternative approaches

In a recent paper, I looked at alternatives.

For example, Finland has a hybrid culture. It has a stigmatising shaming culture that is heavily influenced by integrative shaming features. A well-known Chinese proverb proclaims that nuance is everything. These characteristics are evident in the Finnish prison setting as well as the post-incarceration environment.

Strenuous efforts are made to provide ex-offenders with employment opportunities or financial assistance after their release from prison.

And offenders’ concerns are attended to during incarceration. Prison protests, such as hunger strikes, are unheard of in Finnish prisons. In South Africa they are common.

But the most glaring characteristic of the Finnish system is an admirable rate of recidivism of about 31% (with deincarceration at 53 individuals imprisoned per 100,000 in the national general population). Deincarceration is the result of efforts to limit recourse to imprisonment as much as possible. In South Africa the rate of recidivism (reoffending) is between 86% and 94%.

So, even though South Africa’s rate of incarceration (the number of convicted criminals who go to prison) is almost five times higher than that of Finland, Finland has only one third of South Africa’s reoffending rate. The question is why, since both these countries exhibit stigmatising shaming cultures.

In my research I identified specific features within the Finnish system that makes it a good model for the South African Department of Correctional Services to follow. These include:

• Punishment as a mere loss of liberty. Other features of incarceration, such as torture, forfeiture of privileges (such as family visits), degrading or insulting treatment and solitary confinement are not evident in the Finnish system. All of these are evident in South Africa.
• Reintegration into society. Offenders are provided, as far as possible, with employment opportunities and other measures to help them return to mainstream society. This helps them survive in a harsh stigmatising shaming culture.
• Promotion of normal humane conditions in the prison environment. Prisons in Finland are not surrounded by barbed wire, and prison wardens are dressed in normal civilian clothing. Everything possible is done to normalise the prison environment.
• Just and respectful treatment of prisoners, upholding their human dignity. Research has shown that treating offenders in humiliating ways damages their sense of self and complicates their integration into society.
• Responsiveness to offenders’ concerns. Understanding their problems allows them to feel they are part of the system and breaks down their resistance to cooperation with authorities.

What lessons can be learnt

My research shows that South Africa could benefit from Finland’s approach.

South African academic Gavin Bradshaw, an expert on deep-rooted societal conflict as well as social cohesion, notes that:

“Most recent research work on negotiation also supports the fact that integrative approaches are usually far more effective [than power bargaining].”

Recognition of the formerly incarcerated’s basic human needs, as Bradshaw indicates, is bound to have a significant impact on South Africa’s rates of recidivism.

I found that Finland’s great achievement is a result of recognising the basic human needs of offenders and ex-offenders, thereby eliminating this primary source of human conflict. Those needs include employment, where possible, basic accommodation, dignity, and responsiveness to their concerns.

In a country where 9 out of every 10 offenders reoffend, it is perhaps time to reevaluate the rehabilitation paradigm. Finland’s experience shows the value of applying sensible conflict transformation perspectives in the management of crime.

Reposted with permission from The Conversation. The original article can be found here.

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Earlier this week, the commission announced that it would delay the start of proceedings due to delays in the procurement of vital infrastructure – pushing back the previously announced date of 1 September for the commencement of hearings.

• “It is especially concerning that the delay seems to be due to public servants not executing their responsibilities. This commission is of utmost importance to restore credibility for the country,” Nqola said.

  The fallout from the commission’s announcement resulted in Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi revealing that the department has instituted disciplinary proceedings against its Director-General (DG), Advocate Doc Mashabane.

  The department’s ICT Deputy Director-General (DDG), Jabu Hlatshwayo, has also been placed on immediate suspension pending an investigation and disciplinary process.

  “It is regrettable that these public servants have not done their work to ensure this process starts on time. We call on the Minister to closely monitor the progress to ensure the work of the commission commences speedily,” Nqola said.

  During a media briefing earlier this week, the Minister assured South Africans that “significant progress” has been made in preparation for the beginning of the hearings.

  This includes:

• Venue: The commission will sit at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria. Outstanding adjustments – including guard house and turnstile installations, office reconfiguration, and lift programming – are scheduled for completion this week.
• Capacitation: Appointments of commissioners, evidence leaders, a chief investigator with four investigators, secretarial staff and a spokesperson have been finalised.
• ICT and tools of trade: 25 laptops have been delivered and are being configured. Secure ICT infrastructure, searchable forensic data storage, cybersecurity solutions, and integrated email/website services are at procurement award stage and will be concluded (this week)

Cellphones have already been delivered to commissioners. Streaming services for public access are being finalised in partnership with the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and a private broadcaster as the procurement process closes (this week).

“We remain committed to ensuring that the commission begins its work without further delay and to strengthening the operational efficiency of the department to prevent similar setbacks in the future,” Kubayi said.

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While the country has made strides in improving the lives of women, including having women represented in various roles in society, the level of violence against women continues to be of grave concern.

“I may not be able to answer the question of whether we are progressing or regressing, but I do know that we are at a very low end in terms of brokenness in the dignity or indignity with which women and children are being treated in this country at this moment.

“It has gone way beyond a question of criminality and crime,” Deputy Chairperson of the National Planning Commission (NPC), Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, told SAnews, during a recent interview.

As an independent advisory body appointed by the President, the NPC is tasked with advising government and Parliament on matters pertaining to the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030.

The Deputy Chairperson said the country has come to a point where one cannot merely say that the police must do their work.

“Of course, the police must do their job. When young mothers are getting involved in the abuse of their own children and fathers are getting involved in the abuse of their own children at the scale at which we are witnessing in this country, there is something much more deeper that is broken. We speak of social cohesion and maybe this is a devastating illustration of the lack of it,” he told SAnews.

Expanding on whether the country has made progress in tackling women’s issues, Maluleke said this was a mixed bag, adding that the establishment of a Ministry of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD) as well as a good number of women in Parliament, were good signs.

He also welcomed the fact that the country has the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide National Strategic Plan (GBVF-NSP) which sets out to provide a cohesive strategic framework to guide the national response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

“But we are currently confronted with a very worrying situation in which South African society seems to be turning against women. There’s almost a low-intensity war against women. If you look at the numbers of women who are victims of rape and violence, the numbers are simply mind-boggling as to what actually is happening in our country.”

At the release of the fourth quarterly crime statistics for the period 1 January – 31 March 2025, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said that rape cases had increased with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal contributing 19.1% and 19.9% respectively to the national total.

However, decreases in rape statistics were recorded in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Limpopo, North West, and the Western Cape.

This as the police acknowledged that gender-based violence and femicide affects all genders, adding that women remain disproportionately affected by rape, assault GBH, and murder

Additionally, a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) study conducted in 2024 revealed that one in three women in South Africa have experienced physical intimate partner violence in their lifetime.  According to the report, between July and September 2024, 957 women were murdered, 1 567 survived attempted murders, and 14 366 were assaulted, resulting in grievous bodily harm. In addition, 10 191 cases of rape were reported during this period.

Maluleke also bemoaned the fact that “we have also become a society that is turning or eating its own children if you like, because children are being sold, raped, killed at very high and abnormal rates.”

“There is something broken in our society when it comes to the relationship between men and women; between society and children; men and children; women and children, because some of the cases indicate that.”

The Professor’s comments come as South Africa is at the tail end of Women’s Month.

In his reflections of Women’s Month, Maluleke said that in South Africa, the face of unemployment and poverty tends to be that of a woman – adding that the elimination of poverty, inequality and employment are the key objectives of the NDP.
“The NDP is not very vocal or very explicit on gender issues in general. It’s not very explicit but to the extent that the NDP is about the elimination of inequality, the ending of poverty and unemployment, it is, at least conscious of the people who are the faces of these problems.”

The commission is the custodian of the NDP.

“The face[s] of unemployment, the face[s] of poverty in this country are women. To that extent, there is an acknowledgement of the problems that affect women but perhaps not enough explicit reference to the broader gender issues that we have come to understand and appreciate very well now. [This] includes violence against women, issues of unequal pay and work that is not regarded as work and therefore unpaid work which tends to be done by women.”

As the country celebrated the 30th anniversary of the first official National Women’s Day on 09 August 2025, Maluleke said it is regrettable that the NDP did not anticipate the levels of violence against women.

“The levels of violence against women have exploded in our faces over the past decade or so and it is indeed regrettable that the NDP could not anticipate this problem to the extent that it has come.

“But I think it is a problem that has since been acknowledged by government and by society at large. There are plans and strategies that have since been developed and that has never been our problem as a country. We don’t lack plans and strategies. We just don’t implement as comprehensibly [and] as constantly as possible,” he explained.

Greater emphasis on women

On whether the NDP of the future will place greater emphasis on women’s issues, he said the existence of the DWYPD is a “massive acknowledgement” and attempt to address the problem.

“The current NDP expires in 2030, and plans are already afoot, certainly conversations have started within the National Planning Commission, about the next plan beyond 2030. I cannot imagine a plan beyond 2030 that does not foreground and not merely include but actually foreground issues such as violence against women and all the issues of inequality between men and women in society that we have come to appreciate so well,” he explained.

He said issues of gender have become as important as issues of race which were perhaps much more foregrounded in the period of the birth of the new democracy.

This as in June, the Commission said it was conducting feminist-led gender-mainstreaming workshops, in search of comprehensive responses to the current fate and state of women and youth.

The workshops were revealing a people “anxious and very concerned with the levels of violence and the continued non-representation of women’s voices at all the levels.”

“Sometimes you have the numbers of women but usually they don’t have roles that are influential or that can change the direction of the country.  The question of representativity has now gone beyond numbers. I spoke about the number of women in Parliament but that in itself is not enough. We are beginning to hear voices that are speaking out against the cliché and superficial nature of just numbers. Those are just some of the voices we are hearing.

“We are also realising that class has also become a very important matter in the country. Class in general but also class among and between women is also an issue that needs attention.

“It doesn’t help to have one class of women attempting to represent all classes of women. The same goes for other groups in society. So, intersectionality, inclusion, all of these issues have become much more paramount, and people are beginning to be rather rigorous in discussing them because they want to move beyond the numbers game.”

Asked about the status of women living with disabilities, Maluleke said they are among the most vulnerable in society in terms of inclusivity.

“Certainly, there is room in critical national processes to be more inclusive but also in ordinary day to day engagements and activities.”

Asked what his message to women this month would be, he said: “My message is for the sake of women who marched in 1956. We owe it to them not to give up, but also, we owe it to them to have policies and structures that affirm the dignity of women in this country and their role.

“The message to the women themselves is one of saying thank you. Thank you for your leadership, and thank you for your largely uncelebrated, unremarked but crucial role for the coherence of our society, but also for the economy of this country.
“Women are the backbone of the economy of this country because of the work they do, most of which is not recognised as such. Thank you to the women of the country,” he said.

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In response to written questions from RISE Mzansi MP Makashule Gana, the Minister of Police said that the Enhanced Firearms Register System (EFRS) only records firearms by type, such as handgun, shotgun, or rifle, but not by make or model, such as AK-47 or Type 56, Norinco or Kalashnikov.

AK-47s and Illegal Firearms

The lack of detailed firearm data comes despite growing reports of AK style rifles being used in violent crimes, including cash-in-transit heists, political killings, and mass shootings. AK style automatic rifles are classified as prohibited weapons under the Firearms Control Act, making civilian ownership illegal. Only accredited collectors, museums, and film industry suppliers may obtain special licences, subject to strict conditions such as rendering the weapon incapable of firing live rounds.

RISE Mzansi argues that the inability to monitor specific weapon types undermines efforts to analyse crime trends and disrupt criminal networks. Gana said: “These guns should not be on the streets… We cannot build a safe, prosperous, equal and united South Africa for as long as criminals and other actors are in possession of dangerous weapons”.

Illegal Stockpile and Police Losses

It is estimated that South Africa has around two million illegal firearms in circulation. Concerns have been raised not only about criminal access to weapons but also about SAPS’s handling of its own stock. Between October 2023 and March 2024, police reported the loss or theft of 371 firearms and more than 29,000 rounds of ammunition.

There have also been documented cases of officers implicated in reselling confiscated firearms, some of which were later linked to gang violence and murders.

Steps Taken and Proposed

According to the Minister, SAPS has taken measures to tighten firearm control, including halting manual permit authorisations at border posts, expanding intelligence-led operations such as Operation Shanela, and increasing compliance inspections. Confiscated weapons are sent for ballistic analysis before being destroyed.

RISE Mzansi has called for expanded firearm amnesties, anonymous tip-off reward systems, harsher penalties for illegal possession, and stronger accountability for negligent loss of police-issued weapons. The party plans to raise the issue with the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Police.

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This after the circulation of social media videos – through prominent South African influencers – of controversial and possibly illegal job opportunities in Russia.

The videos circulated by the influencers are targeted at young women between the ages of 18 and 22.

“Let me be clear: these offers are not endorsed by the Government of South Africa. Never rely solely on social media promotions or unsolicited social media advertisements. Always cross-check and verify job opportunities through official channels,” Nel said.

The Deputy Minister acknowledged the “desperation created by high levels of youth unemployment, particularly among young women”, which could lead to dangerous situations.

“These vulnerabilities must not be exploited. Government remains committed to creating safe and sustainable employment pathways through initiatives such as the Presidential Employment Stimulus, the National Youth Service, and skills development programmes,” he said.

Nel emphasised that a ‘whole of society’ approach is required to protect young lives.

“We call upon all sectors of society – government, civil society, business and communities – to work together to protect our youth from predators who seek to profit from their hopes and dreams.

“The safety, dignity and futures of our young people are not for sale. Human trafficking is a scourge that we must confront with unity, vigilance, and unshakable resolve,” Nel said.

Echoing the Deputy Minister’s sentiments on the dangers of human trafficking, the department relayed the example of some 23 South Africans who were rescued and repatriated from Myanmar in March.

“Before leaving South Africa in 2024, they were lured to the Kingdom of Thailand under false pretences by an employment agency that promised them lucrative jobs that were advertised on various social media platforms. These adverts promised the victims good salaries, free accommodation, comprehensive travel expenses and other lucrative benefits.

“Once in Thailand, they were transported to Myanmar against their will. The victims were held captive for more than four months in a cybercrime compound in Myanmar. They were subjected to brutal treatment, intimidation, physical torture and forced labour. They were also compelled to engage in illicit activities, including online scams that targeted individuals worldwide,” the department said.

Before accepting any international offer, use the following channels to verify its authenticity:

• The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
• The Department of Employment and Labour (DoEL).
• The Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
• The South African Police Service (SAPS).

“It is also imperative that any person taking up a job offer or opportunity overseas must first enquire from the country where the employment is offered as to what the legal travel and legal working requirements are, in respect of that country.

“Trafficking in persons is a reality, with South Africa being regarded as a source, transit and destination country for trafficking in persons. Recent data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has documented a 25% global increase in detected trafficking of victims, with children accounting [for] 38%.

“The department… working with the National Intersectoral Committee on Trafficking in Persons (NICTIP), provincial task teams, and rapid response units established under the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013 (Act 7 of 2013), continues to strengthen South Africa’s collective response to trafficking in persons.

“Our work includes enhancing investigations and prosecutions of trafficking offences, building cross-border partnerships with international counterparts and expanding public awareness campaigns to alert communities to the methods used by traffickers,” the department said.

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“Its manifestations are diverse: drug trafficking, human trafficking, illicit firearms, cybercrime, wildlife crime, money laundering, and terrorism, to name but a few of the most threatening,” Cachalia said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the 27th African Regional Interpol Conference underway in Cape Town, Cachalia said these crimes transcend borders, exploit technological advances and undermine the security of people and the integrity of respective States and economies.

“We are all mindful, particularly, that syndicated crime today is not static. The evolving nature of criminal activities, the emergence of new trends and the use of sophisticated technologies by criminal networks compel us to constantly adapt our responses,” Cachalia said.

Cachalia said dealing with these crimes demands a collective, concerted and focused effort.

“It requires robust strategies, and the concrete implementation of agreed actions at national, regional, continental and global levels.

“We are gathered here to generate solutions that are both strategic and pragmatic; solutions that can be implemented effectively within our countries and within the frameworks of our regional and continental organisations.

“Our deliberations will help to shape a more coordinated African response to transnational organised crime, one that strengthens the security of our borders while protecting the rights and wellbeing of our people.”

Cachalia said South Africa’s participation in the conference is firmly rooted in the country’s constitutional values and long-term national vision.

“Our Constitution enshrines the right of every person to safety and security, and it compels the State to protect and uphold these rights.

“Our engagement in regional and global security cooperation is, therefore, not only a matter of international solidarity but also an essential component of our domestic agenda.”

Cachalia said South Africa recognises that transnational organised crime undermines development and corrodes governance.

“By weakening institutions, fuelling corruption, and diverting resources, it impedes our ability to achieve the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.”

In his welcoming address, National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, said the biennial conference is one of INTERPOL’s most significant regional events.

“It offers us the opportunity to assess crime threats and emerging trends, strengthen INTERPOL’s core capabilities, and reinforce the global policing cooperation that links Africa to all 193 member countries of INTERPOL.”

Masemola said transnational organised crime is evolving with alarming speed.

“Whether it is drug trafficking, human trafficking, cybercrime, firearms smuggling, vehicle theft or illegal mining, these crimes exploit borders, weaken governance, fuel corruption and destabilise communities. Behind every crime statistic lies a story of lives shattered, families broken, and communities robbed of their peace.”

The conference is being attended by the President of INTERPOL, Major General Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi; the Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr Valdecy Urquiza, and Police Chiefs from INTERPOL member countries, amongst others.

The high-level gathering will underscore South Africa’s commitment to regional and international cooperation in combating transnational organised crime, terrorism and other emerging security threats.

It is expected to result in concrete agreements on strengthening regional responses, while also serving as a platform for the exchange of best practices and the deepening of law enforcement partnerships.

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One such unit, based in Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal, has been singled out for its commitment to tackling gender-based violence and bringing serial offenders to justice.

Bringing a Serial Rapist to Justice

Between 2014 and 2022, 38-year-old Mzamo Gumede terrorised women in the Empangeni area, raping at least ten victims. His youngest was a 17-year-old girl. Gumede targeted women walking alone, threatening them with either a firearm or a knife before dragging them into nearby bushes to commit the assaults.

Investigators from the Empangeni FCS, led by Lieutenant Colonel Bongiwe Sosibo, painstakingly pieced together evidence, combining forensic results with detailed descriptions from survivors. Their persistence led to Gumede’s identification and arrest.

On 22 October 2024, the Mtubatuba High Court sentenced him to ten life terms for rape, plus 15 years for robbery. He was also declared unfit to possess a firearm and his name was added to the National Register for Sex Offenders.

A Record of Results

In the past year alone, the Empangeni FCS unit has secured 30 convictions. Of these, 20 resulted in life sentences, while the remaining ten offenders received a combined total of 275 years in prison.

Lieutenant Colonel Sosibo and her team were praised for their tireless work, often involving long hours and challenging conditions, in pursuit of justice.

The Role of FCS Units

FCS units were established within SAPS to focus on crimes against women, children and other vulnerable groups. They have been described as a crucial development in the fight against gender-based violence, particularly in cases such as rape, which often occur in secluded areas or between acquaintances, making prevention difficult.

Police officials said the Empangeni FCS’s record demonstrates how specialised investigative capacity can make a significant difference in securing justice for victims and helping to restore confidence in law enforcement.

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Border Security Deployment

In December 2023, government committed to recruiting 400 junior border guards to bolster frontline security. By June 2025, 395 recruits had successfully completed training and were deployed to major border posts and airports.

Deployment figures show that:

• Beitbridge received 100 officers

• Lebombo received 90 officers

• OR Tambo International Airport received 30 officers

• Other high-risk points such as Maseru Bridge, Oshoek and Ficksburg received between 20 and 30 each

Smaller allocations were made to posts including Platjan, Tshidilamolomo, Telle Bridge, and Vioolsdrift.

Five recruits did not complete the programme, with two resigning during training and three dismissed. Officials confirmed there is no outstanding deployment, with all available personnel now assigned to border protection duties rather than administrative functions.

Cybersecurity Progress

Alongside physical border enforcement, government has been working to strengthen protection of digital systems under the 2024 National Cybersecurity Strategy. By the end of the second quarter of 2025, seven critical government systems and databases, including ABIS, NIS, eHomeAffairs and the Live Capture platform, had completed independent security audits.

The Department of Home Affairs reports that the average response time to cyber incidents handled by the State Security Agency’s Cyber Security Centre is around four hours. High-priority cases receive initial triage within one to two hours, aided by real-time monitoring and forensic detection tools.

Broader Security Picture

The twin focus on reinforcing border posts and tightening cyber defences reflects government’s acknowledgement of mounting threats to both territorial integrity and digital infrastructure. Officials stressed that continued investment in personnel and technology will be required to keep pace with evolving risks.

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