“Through community-driven initiatives, the integration of resources and the development of innovative strategies, the agreement allows for a united front between the South African Police Service (SAPS), the province and communities to combat crime and promote public safety,” said acting Minister in The Presidency, Maropene Ramokgopa during a post Cabinet media briefing.

“Government has zero-tolerance for crime, fraud and corruption,” said Ramokgopa, who added that Government would hold those who violate the law accountable. “Cabinet remains determined to ensure that South Africa is a society where all people feel safe, and the recent arrests and conviction of suspects involved in various serious crimes demonstrates the commitment to push back against crime,” Ramokgopa said.

Cabinet has further noted the increase in contact crimes reported in the latest quarterly crime statistics.

“Government is implementing a ‘whole of government approach,’ including signing cooperative agreements with provincial and local governments, rolling out operational plans in Cape Town and Nelson Mandela Bay,” stated Ramkgopa, who noted there are plans to replicate these actions in all metros, and Government is engaging with several departments to improve collaborated efforts to address crime.

Ramokgopa stated that Government is learning from international best practices and developing strategies to deal decisively with incidents of extortion.

Government has been sharing intelligence with “international partners,” co-ordinating the tracking of criminal networks with the aim of bringing offenders to justice. These efforts are specifically focused on “protecting vulnerable individuals and businesses who are often the primary targets of extortion,” Ramokgopa noted.

“Extortion does not just harm individuals, it undermines our entire economy. By fighting this crime, we are protecting jobs, encouraging investment, and promoting economic growth. We are empowering communities to stand up against extortion through education, support networks, and confidential reporting systems. We are making it safer for people to say no to criminals.

“The SAPS is being equipped with the latest tools and techniques to combat extortion, including advanced intelligence gathering and specialised task forces, to stay ahead of criminal tactics. Extortion often thrives where there is a lack of economic opportunity,” Ramokgopa said.

Ramokgopa announced the completion of the National Policing Strategy with adoption expected by the end of October 2024. It aims to address issues regarding police stations and necessary infrastructure based on “norms and standards.”

The policy will serve as the overarching framework for policing strategies and will accommodate provincial needs and priorities, in line with section 206 (1) and (2) of the Constitution.

Cabinet further called for South African citizens to continue working with law enforcement agencies and report illegal activities to police.

“The fight against crime is a shared responsibility, and government will continue to champion all initiatives that will mobilise all people in society to work together towards a better and safer South Africa,” said Ramokgopa.

Further, Ramokgopa reiterated that no citizen “should have to live in fear in their own community. Government is committed to a sustained, long-term effort to root out this crime and create lasting safety and security for all South Africans.”

Some recent success from law enforcement resulted in the arrest of 673 suspects by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). Of the 573 suspects arrested, 506 were convicted and 77 court orders were granted for the seizure of assets connected to criminal activities. Additionally, SAPS arrested 14 422 suspects for various crimes through Operation Shanela from 19 to 25 August 2024.

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The Association of Private Security Owners of South Africa (TAPSOSA) told ProtectionWeb various government departments, municipalities, and parastatals have not paid most of the affected security companies for their services.

According to TAPSOSA’s spokesperson Sindisiwa Changuion, one of the organisation’s members is owed R18-million by an organ of the state.

“Almost 70% of the more than 11000 companies that operate in the guarding sector are affected by non-payment for their services, with an estimated loss of more than half a billion.”

TAPSOSA has launched a national campaign to proactively engage and expose private security consumers “who have no regard for the well-being of these companies and their employees.”

“Our objective is to bring to light the adverse effect of such treatment which also exacerbates issues of non-compliance in the private security industry. As a representative of marginalized employers, we cannot afford to sit back and not intervene on this issue as security businesses’ sustainability is threatened,” said Changuion.

The campaign is in response to the resolutions of the Private Security Industry Summit held in December last year.

“It became a glaring indication and a consensus from the summit that despite the issues discussed, in particular the regulation of pricing in the industry, most private security employers are increasingly frustrated by private security consumers who do not honor the payment of their invoices on agreed payment terms.”

“To date, most of these affected businesses had to either shut their doors or incur insurmountable debt just to stay afloat and keep their business operational. In this regard, TAPSOSA on behalf of its member companies intends to engage with the clients whom our members have had challenges with regarding the payment of their invoices which has spun over six months,” said Changuion.

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