The tip-off reportedly given to “military police officials” of the Mthatha-based infantry battalion saw soldiers alert Lebombo customs officials to an apparently abandoned and loaded truck at a nearby fuel stop on the N4. The loaded truck/trailer was taken to the SA Revenue Service (SARS) Lebombo where more than 6 700 pairs of sneakers as well as 340 pairs of Diesel branded and 216 branded pairs of G-Star jeans were found. The trainers were branded Adidas, Jordan, Lacoste, New Balance, Nike, Reebok and Vans.

All told the clothing and footwear was valued at R8 427 600. In addition to the big Lebombo haul soldiers also relieved smugglers of unspecified contraband worth R1.69 million on the Mpumalanga/Mozambique border in November.

The trade in counterfeit goods is a major issue for South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, which recently recorded other successes. At the end of October 2025, the Hawks seized R59 million worth of counterfeit Nike, Versace, and Gucci products during a raid on a freight container depot in Durban. Weeks earlier, authorities seized R260 million worth of illicit goods from over 100 shops in the North West province – police seized over 86 000 counterfeit items from stores in Coligny, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg, Mahikeng, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg, Ventersdorp, and Zeerust.

In revealing its Operation Shanela II and Safer Festive Season Operation statistics over the last week, the SAPS said in the Western Cape, they uncovered an illicit alcohol manufacturing plant in Lansdowne and arrested two suspects aged between 26 and 39 years old. They were arrested for the illegal manufacturing and distributing liquor. Seizures included manufacturing equipment, an assortment of alcohol branding stickers, and unknown liquids.

The illicit alcohol industry has grown from R6.4 billion in value in 2017 to R16.5 billion in 2024. It has become so prevalent that roughly one in five bottles of alcohol is illicit. These are mostly either counterfeit or smuggled into South Africa.

Also in the Western Cape last week, members of the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Narcotics Unit intercepted a truck on the N12 en route from Johannesburg to George carrying drugs. A box containing cocaine worth R3.6 million was seized and arrested a 46-year-old suspect for dealing in cocaine.

In Mpumalanga, police acting on intelligence intercepted a truck pulling two trailers with 12 water tanks with 5000-litre capacity packed with cartons of illicit cigarettes. The seized consignment consisted of 25 pallets of illicit cigarettes worth R17.4 million. A 43-year-old foreign national from the Kingdom of Eswatini was arrested after the discovery of illicit cigarettes hidden inside water tanks in Sundra on 5 December 2025.

Also in Mpumalanga, two Zimbabwean foreign nationals were arrested for dealing in dagga. This is after police intercepted a truck on the N2 Road from Empangeni en route to Zimbabwe and discovered six big bags of compressed dagga to the value of R1.2 million on 4 December 2025.

According to statistics from the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF, in November soldiers, from both regular SA Army and Army Reserve units, also stopped drugs worth just over R2 million from coming into South Africa via the country’s borders with Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

An unspecified number of vehicles with a total value of R1.45 million were prevented from illegally exiting South Africa en route to chop shops or for export from Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

That the original reason for the Operation Corona border safeguarding tasking – preventing illegal immigrants – still applies comes with interception of 302 in November, with 239 Zimbabweans the majority of those handed to police and Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials. Basotho, Mozambicans, Swazis and Zimbabweans made up the remaining illegal immigrants nabbed by soldiers who were also integral to the detention of 30 suspects sought by police in connection with crimes not specified by the Joint Operations Division.

Livestock – cattle, goats and sheep – found illegally with an attributed value of R872 210 on South African pastureland was impounded. As is normal Basotho pastoralists were the biggest offenders accounting for R622 710 worth of livestock which either wandered across a non-existent or broken border fence or were herded into the Free State province.

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In partnership with the SANDF and other security role-players like the Metro Police and Correctional Services, the SAPS on 24 October launched its Safer Festive Season 2025/26 operation in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Lieutenant Siphesihle Gqirana reported that the event symbolised unity among South Africa’s security cluster and law enforcement services, which are all working together to ensure a safe, crime-free festive period for residents and visitors across the province.

At the Gqeberha launch, soldiers from Army Support Base Eastern Cape carried out a drill and ceremonial parade while a BK117 helicopter from Air Force Station Port Elizabeth carried out a hoisting exercise – 15 Squadron Charlie Flight Pilot (Major Mzikayise Sandi), Flight Engineer (Sergeant Carel van Dalen) and the SA Police Service diving team practised hoisting over water operations to the delight of assembled crowds.

Other stakeholders taking part in the launch included the South African Military Health Service (Area Military Health Unit), Nelson Mandela Bay Metro Police, Correctional Services, and SA Police Service Mounted Unit.

The launch was led by the Acting Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Cape, Major General Thandiswa Kupiso. “It is an honour to stand before you today to share an important message. The festive season is a time of joy, celebration and reunion. It brings visitors/tourists to our province and strengthens our local economy, but it also presents challenges, particularly in terms of criminal activity. This festive season, the safety of residents and visitors is our top priority. We will not allow crime to overshadow the positive spirit of this season. Partnership is crucial; we urge residents to stay vigilant, report any suspicious activity, and avoid drinking and driving, and look out for one another. We will leave no stone unturned, criminals will be pursued relentlessly, and we are committed to ensuring that this community remains safe for everyone,” she said.

During the launch, Kupiso officially handed over 28 new police vehicles to serve communities across Nelson Mandela Bay.

Throughout October, various provinces have been launching Safer Festive Season operations. National Police Commissioner Fanie Masemola explained at the beginning of the month that the Safer Festive Season Campaign is designed to combat crime during the South African summer holidays (typically from October to January), a period historically characterised by a significant surge in criminal activity.

“The Festive Season is characterised by specific dynamics, ranging from alcohol and drug abuse to more serious violent and organised crimes. Areas of particular concern include the wellbeing and safety of citizens, the safeguarding of South Africa’s territorial integrity, combating of illicit economy and the maintenance of the authority of the state,” Masemola said.

For the 2025/2026 period, the police are focussing on ten key areas: gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF); aggravated robberies; border security; the illicit economy and serious organised crime; firearms, liquor and second-hand goods; bylaws, urban decay and hijacked buildings; road safety and traffic law enforcement; event security (including SASREA and G20); tourism safety and protection of economic hubs; and extortion and kidnapping related crimes.

Safer Festive Season operations are already bearing fruit. The SAPS reported that between 20 and 26 October, 16 339 suspects were arrested and 158 unlicensed firearms confiscated. These operations were carried out in parallel with crime-fighting initiative Operation Shanela II.

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The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) committee was briefed at Tempe, an SA National Defence Force (SANDF) hub of bases, units and accommodation outside Bloemfontein before moving to the border environment proper. Stops during the 21-23 October visit included the Maseru Bridge port of entry (PoE) and border town Ficksburg.

A social media post attributed to Defence Corporate Communication (DCC) has it, after hearing from SANDF officers posted to the border protection tasking Operation Corona, as well as Free State-based Border Management Authority (BMA) and SA Police Service (SAPS) officers, the SCSJ called for an urgent, unified borderline management plan and legislative reforms to strengthen inter-departmental co-ordination.

The call was prompted after the parliamentarians saw infrastructural decay, inadequate staffing, porous fencing and limited surveillance technology. Collectively these weaken national border integrity and facilitate illegal migration, smuggling and stock theft.

A BMA presentation brought to light a 70% staffing shortfall to cover a 285 km stretch of land border, the DCC reported. Similarly the SANDF told the NCOP members it has “only 42 soldiers” to patrol 485 km of land border. Police add to the tale of woe warning of persistent problems such as livestock theft, corruption and a lack of secure pounds with SA Revenue Service (SARS) customs officials confirmed ongoing efforts to counter illicit trade.

A public engagement session at the Ficksburg town hall in Clarens, according to a Parliamentary Communication Services statement, sought solutions to increasing challenges facing border agriculture. Stock theft, cross border crime, rural safety and SAPS service delivery were the main points raised.

Residents called for effective implementation of the National Rural Safety Strategy, particularly at police station level, as well as for sufficient resources to be allocated to safeguard rural communities and prioritise food security. Going further they “urged for adequate resourcing” for the BMA, SANDF and SAPS to effectively address cross-border criminality and ensure farming communities are safe.

The farming community further proposed strengthening SAPS stock theft units by way of increasing trained and skilled detective numbers; expanding vehicle fleets and mobility resources; integrating technology to enhance surveillance and investigative capabilities; and imposing heavier sentences for livestock related crimes.

Residents also called for greater SAPS capacity in rural areas, recommending appointing dedicated rural safety co-ordinators at rural police stations, equipped with dedicated vehicles and clear job descriptions focused solely on rural safety. They proposed the deployment of dedicated crime intelligence resources to rural areas to enhance proactive threat detection, support targeted policing operations and improve overall effectiveness of crime prevention strategies.

On cross-border crimes, residents emphasised increased patrols, improved mobility and additional resources to secure vulnerable border regions and disrupt illicit activities. They further proposed establishing area reaction teams at strategic points for quick response to emerging security threats.

Additionally, there was an appeal to finalise of overdue legislation, including the Pounds Act and the Controlled Animal Bill, to strengthen regulatory compliance on stock theft and stray animals. They also called for stricter regulation of auctions, abattoirs and speculators to curb livestock related crimes.

The Free State Regional Commissioner undertook to deploy additional SAPS personnel to address concerns of the Ficksburg community.

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The EFF’s Carl Niehaus earlier this month condemned the “devastating events that unfolded at the University of Fort Hare, where a significant portion of the institution was reduced to ruins through what appears to be a deliberate and coordinated act of sabotage involving military grade incendiary devices.”

He said this was not an isolated incident but a “stark manifestation of the deepening crisis in our nation’s security apparatus and the failures of institutional leadership,” and questioned the origin of the incendiary devices and flares used in the protests.

“The EFF has for a long time now warned that the security at SANDF military bases where arms, and military equipment — such as was seen in use at Fort Hare — are stored has collapsed, and is in some instances non-existent, with perimeter fences in disrepair, or simply gone. Corruption is rife, and the selling and pilfering of military equipment at some bases are a regular occurrence.”

Recently, on 2 October at 6 South African Infantry (SAI) Battalion base in Makhanda (Grahamstown), also in the Eastern Cape, a mortar bomb blew up and killed a man who was trespassing. “He was evidently collecting easily accessible arms. This explosion came three years after a 33-year-old local man was injured after a hand grenade went off at the Carini squatter camp — a hand grenade that was also stolen from the very same military base,” Niehaus said. “Evidently the collapse of security and wanton corruption and collapse of the South African National Defence Force is now threatening our national security and internal stability.”

He said that what happened at Fort Hare University means South Africa’s intelligence structures will have to shape up drastically, and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence will have to intensify oversight responsibilities and visits to military bases.

“The EFF reiterates that it is critical that the lack of security and collapse of security at military bases where arms and military hardware are being stored needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency,” the party said, and called for an immediate audit of all SANDF bases.

“Furthermore, the parliamentary oversight role of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans must be strengthened without delay. These bodies have been too passive, allowing bureaucratic inertia and political complacency to erode their effectiveness. The EFF proposes mandatory quarterly inspections, unannounced visits, and the inclusion of civil society representatives in oversight processes to ensure transparency and accountability.

“There must also be a concerted collaboration with intelligence structures in South Africa, including the State Security Agency and other relevant bodies, to intelligence-gather on arms trafficking networks. This partnership should extend to real-time monitoring and joint operations to secure military installations. Without such integrated efforts, we risk further escalations where our universities, hospitals, and public infrastructure become battlegrounds for shadowy forces,” Niehaus concluded.

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Members of Parliament (MPs) from both National Assembly (NA) defence oversight committees – the Joint Standing Committee on Defence (JSCD) and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (PCDMV) – were hands-on and eyes open this week along the Limpopo River. They also interacted with officers and soldiers at a provincial tactical headquarters.

JSCD chair Malusi Gigaba is quoted by Parliamentary Communication Service statements as saying the visit was to assess the situation first-hand. It is worrying that government departments and entities responsible for border management are not working together to find lasting solutions to the country’s porous borders, the JSCD and PCDMV said.

The government departments and entities Gigaba refers to are the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) resorting in Minister Angie Motshekga’s Department of Defence (DoD); the Border Management Authority (BMA), a Ministry of Home Affairs entity; the SA Police Service (SAPS), currently the responsibility of Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia; and the SA Revenue Service (SARS) Customs Division in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’ portfolio of responsibilities.

The statements report the SANDF telling their Parliamentary visitors there was a lack of manpower to properly monitor the long stretch of borders shared with Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique. “Soldiers are required to cover hundreds of kilometres, often with limited resources,” the SANDF said. “The SANDF is severely underfunded. We should have 22 military companies patrolling our borders, but currently there are only 15. Even these are struggling due to shortages of personnel, vehicles and modern technology, such as drones,” said Gigaba.

The SANDF also noted that informal settlements near the Limpopo River make border control even more difficult, as some residents are reportedly involved in aiding illegal crossings.

PCDMV chair Dakota Legoete is quoted as saying: “If we are being honest, we don’t have functioning borders, and this puts the safety of our country at risk”.

Co-Chairperson of the JSCD, Phiroane Phala, added: “While it is important to maintain good relations with our neighbours, we must also protect our territorial integrity. We cannot allow people to enter and leave the country without control.”

An on-foot inspection along the Limpopo River brought to light damaged fencing and areas where there are regular illegal crossings. Soldiers told the MPs they were too few to effectively monitor and respond to the constant flow of border jumpers.

The committees said they will continue their oversight work and engage with relevant departments to push for better coordination, increased funding, and stronger border protection measures.

Gigaba has it further managing migration to realise South Africa’s economic development and national security potential and minimise its risks requires a new paradigm underpinned by management. This he envisages as an “all-of-government” and “all-of-society” approach. “It is necessary to invest in border management infrastructure in order to mitigate the loss of billions of rand as a result of counterfeit goods, the illicit entry and exit of goods that are not declared to SARS and crimes such as car theft and illicit tobacco, among others.”

The committees, the statements have it, want a strategy to address the nature of migration, which affects all provinces. “All of government must come together with the involvement of all security structures for concerted operations.”

Both committees further want to see “a sufficiently equipped SANDF and other border entities in terms of personnel on the ground, technology and other resources”.

Gigaba emphasised that something needs to be done about syndicates that buy trucks and hire drivers to transport illicit goods across border lines. In addition, concerted efforts are needed to find solutions, as South Africa cannot control what happens with its counterparts on the Zimbabwe side. Members of the oversight committees also called for collection of all the donkeys along the border as they are used to carry out illegal activities. They said the engagement with the BMA has exposed a weak and dysfunctional system.

Gigaba recommended that all departmental entities should improve on their cooperation to disable the enablers and traffickers. “It is worrying to think that should the truck scanner that is in use break down due not being properly maintained, this will pose a huge risk as cargo will not be scanned,” he noted.

“It has become very clear that the BMA does not have a budget, same as SAPS, Home Affairs and SANDF. It is estimated that South Africa losses over R83 billion rands in illicit goods and substances and one of the national key points where there is a serious national threat is here in Beitbridge, Durban harbour and OR Tambo,” Legoete said.

The committee concluded that it might be ill advised to throw all the available resources at chasing people entering the country, as they may miss their target. A strategy is needed to address the nature of migration, which affects all provinces. All of government must come together with the involvement of all security structures for concerted operations.

In spite of challenges, Gigaba commended the admirable dedication of soldiers serving along the border, at times without proper equipment. “We need to ensure that the challenges they face at the level of technology, equipment and infrastructure are addressed. They are making enormous personal sacrifices to protect those of us inside the country.”

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All told SA Army soldiers from both the regular and reserve forces confiscated R5.8 million worth of contraband and drugs from smugglers, with Mozambicans attempting to enter South Africa illegally across the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga borders the biggest culprits.

Drugs valued at just over R3 million were seized in three provinces, with the largest haul (R2 million) seized in Mpumalanga last month. Contraband worth R2.8 million was recovered by soldiers, with the majority of that being seized in Limpopo (R2.4 million).

In August soldiers on the border protection tasking Operation Corona confiscated narcotics worth just under R800 000.

Illegal immigrant apprehensions in September totalled 322, according to statistics from the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF – well up from the 64 detained in August, but still short of the 456 handed to Department of Home Affairs (DHA) officials and police in July.

At 222, Mozambicans were the single largest contributor to the month’s illegal immigrant apprehensions with Mozambicans stopped by soldiers on the KwaZulu-Natal border adding, along with Swazis, 36 to that number. Twenty-three Basotho and six Batswana also found themselves in custody ahead of deportation to their home countries.

Soldiers on land borders with Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique recovered livestock (cattle and small stock such as goats and sheep) worth R1.1 million in September. Cattle all told valued at over R500 000 was moved to police and other compounds after being found illegally on South African pastureland bordering the same three countries.

No livestock was reported recovered in August by the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF, nor were any firearms seized.

In September, soldiers also prevented an unknown number of stolen vehicles valued at R7.9 million from illegally exiting South Africa via the Mpumalanga/Mozambique and Limpopo/Zimbabwe land borders. This compares with R1.8 million worth of stolen vehicles recovered in August and R8 million in July.

Joint Operations further reported the apprehension of 36 “criminals” attempting to reach Lesotho and Mozambique in September. A total of 27 criminals were apprehended in Operation Corona patrols in August.

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All seven were, according to the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) Directorate Corporate Communication (DCC), “conducting an unauthorised operation” and “unlawfully” intercepted cigarette smugglers at around midnight on Tuesday 16 September. The unauthorised operation happened at Artonvilla, Musina, aka the Sediba sa Tlou base.

A DCC statement has it shots were fired during the unauthorised operation, illicit goods were seized and “some contraband was unlawfully concealed at the base”.

Acting on what is termed “credible intelligence”, military police and SA Police Service (SAPS) officers as well as “Military Intelligence” operatives followed up later the same day. Soldiers at the base, according to the statement, initially attempted to obstruct police and intelligence operatives by denying them access. The search and seizure component of the raid went ahead in the wake of what is said to be “engagement with senior SANDF officers”. All told, the raid netted six hidden boxes of illicit cigarettes inside the base, in addition to the 18 boxes already handed to SARS (SA Revenue Service).

All seven suspects were taken into custody and face charges of corruption, possession of illicit cigarettes, unlawful discharge of a firearm and defeating the ends of justice.

In addition to criminal charges, the uniformed personnel will face internal SANDF disciplinary “processes” with the outcomes determining further administrative and command decisions.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the suspects are aged between 26 and 42 and include a female soldier.

The intelligence-driven raid on the base is part of an ongoing effort by Defence Intelligence Division of the Department of Defence (DoD) to crack down on soldiers collaborating with smugglers to bring contraband into South Africa. Last week’s raid coincided with a visit to the Operation Corona Limpopo AoO by Defence Intelligence Chief, Lieutenant General Thalita Mxakato.

The raid and the visit of the senior DoD intelligence officer to the Musina AoO is another example of the zero tolerance to corruption, smuggling and misconduct in SANDF ranks, the SANDF said. Personnel found in contravention of the law will, the SANDF statement has it, face the “full consequences” of both the military and civilian justice systems.

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The assessment comes in the wake of what is termed “a detailed study visit” by SADC Secretariat representatives on 24 and 25 July. Listed among the visit’s objectives were implementation of the co-ordinated border management (CBM) concept, progress on implementation of the one-stop border post (OSBP) concept and transit procedure efficiency. It further included evaluation of time required for release of goods and the state of ICT (information and communication technology) connectivity at the border and with neighbouring Zimbabwe.

The SADC team, a statement reads in part, observed a strategic reduction in the number of border agencies operating at Beitbridge. This fits with South Africa “currently implementing [its] Border Management Authority (BMA)”. The authority comprises immigration, agriculture, law enforcement and port health. “BMA is an advanced stage of CBM concept and was established in South Africa in 2020 starting operations in 2023.” The BMA has co-ordination mechanisms with SA Revenue Service (SARS), SA Police Service (SAPS) and SA National Defence Force (SANDF). Implementation protocols are also in place to for BMA to work with other stakeholder including Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (CBRTA) and the SA national Department of Transport (DOT).

“The number of border agencies were therefore streamlined through the BMA,” the statement notes.

Beitbridge is “currently benefiting from some renovation to be more effective and efficient for facilitating trade and eventually implementing other trade facilitation concepts in line with the SADC regional integration agenda”.

Progress to date on trade facilitation at Beitbridge led the SADC delegation to “consider implementation of the OSBP concept expeditiously” as one leg of improving ease of doing business and increasing intra-SADC trade.

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The NSS identifies violent crime, organised criminal networks, gang activity, infrastructure sabotage, and the proliferation of illegal firearms as primary threats to domestic security. It also draws attention to underlying socio-economic drivers such as poverty, inequality, and youth marginalisation. The document emphasises that a fragmented security approach, poor coordination between agencies, and a lack of community trust have allowed these problems to escalate.

Rebuilding the Police Service

A key theme in the NSS is the recognition that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has lost credibility in the eyes of the public. The NSS states plainly that the police service suffers from low public trust, internal corruption, poor investigative capacity, and inconsistent service delivery. These weaknesses are particularly stark in high-crime urban centres and informal settlements, where communities increasingly rely on private security or vigilante groups in the absence of effective policing.

To address this, the NSS calls for a “professional, trusted and well-led” SAPS, with a stronger emphasis on intelligence-driven policing, accountability, and community engagement. Proposals include improved training standards, more rigorous leadership development, and a modernised crime intelligence capability. The strategy also suggests enhanced internal vetting mechanisms to prevent infiltration by criminal networks. However, the absence of specific budget allocations or timelines casts doubt on whether these reforms can be meaningfully implemented, especially in the face of fiscal austerity and competing national priorities. This comes as calls grow for an increase in defence spending, while SAPS sits with a R120.89 billion budget for 2025/26.

Strengthening Local Policing Structures

Oversight and Reform of Private Security

The private security industry continues to play a dominant and expanding role in the country’s public safety landscape. According to the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), there are more than 630,000 active private security officers registered as of March 2025, more than triple the number of South African Police Service (SAPS) personnel. Tens of thousands of licensed private security firms operate across residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure sites. The NSS recognises the operational value of this sector, especially in areas where state policing capacity is weak or absent. However, it also flags the unco-ordinated growth of private security as a potential threat to state sovereignty, legal accountability, and equitable access to safety services.

In response, the NSS calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the regulatory environment governing private security. The strategy advocates for tighter state oversight, improved vetting procedures, and full alignment with national security protocols. It emphasises the need for stricter licensing, regular audits, and clearer reporting standards to ensure that private security operations adhere to constitutional principles and human rights norms. It also proposes that private security companies be more formally integrated into national safety and security planning frameworks. These measures are meant to mitigate the risks posed by a sector that has, in many instances, operated in silos, with minimal coordination or public accountability. However, the NSS does not fully address the historical difficulties in enforcing such regulation, which include insufficient regulatory capacity and industry resistance to reform.

The proposed reforms come as PSIRA recently advanced new regulations regarding the use and control of firearms by private security personnel, including limitations on weapon types, stricter storage requirements, and enhanced training standards. These proposals aim to reduce the misuse of firearms and address public concerns about the increasingly militarised posture of some private firms. While broadly welcomed by public safety advocates, the proposed regulations have been met with pushback from the industry, who argue that they undermine operational effectiveness. The success of both the NSS recommendations and PSIRA’s regulatory efforts will depend on the political will to enforce compliance, the ability to strengthen state oversight mechanisms, and whether the industry can be incentivised, or compelled, to operate in alignment with national security interests.

Community Involvement and Social Prevention

The strategy advocates for a renewed emphasis on community participation in security. Community Policing Forums (CPFs), which have long existed in theory but often lack capacity or legitimacy, are to be revitalised and professionalised. The NSS envisions CPFs acting as bridges between communities and the police, facilitating intelligence gathering, conflict resolution, and the early identification of localised threats.

In tandem, the document outlines a broader social prevention approach, aiming to address the conditions that fuel crime. This includes support for youth development programmes, substance abuse treatment, urban renewal, and job creation initiatives. While these are laudable goals, they fall largely outside the mandate of traditional security services and depend heavily on interdepartmental cooperation, long-term investment, and stable governance, all of which remain inconsistent across much of the country.

A Strategy in Need of Substance

The NSS offers a detailed and well-structured analysis of South Africa’s domestic security challenges, acknowledging the shortcomings of past approaches that were often reactive, fragmented, and poorly co-ordinated. It shifts the focus toward a more integrated model of security that combines law enforcement, regulatory reform, community participation, and socio-economic development. This broader understanding of security reflects international best practices and addresses the complex interplay between crime, governance, inequality, and public trust. On paper, the strategy marks a significant evolution in the government’s thinking about internal security.

However, translating that vision into concrete results will be far more difficult, and relies on the government doing something it has often failed to do, delivering on it’s promises. The success of the domestic security component depends on more than policy clarity. It will require a deep generational reform within the SAPS, effective regulation of the sprawling private security sector, and the revitalisation of community-level safety structures. These tasks are interdependent and must be carried out in a co-ordinated manner across all levels of government, alongside the reform and modernisation of the military. Without functional intergovernmental co-operation and clearly defined roles, the NSS risks replicating the policy incoherence that has plagued previous security strategies.

Crucially, implementation will hinge on four often elusive ingredients: targeted and sustained funding, technical and administrative capacity, political will, and public trust. Each of these has historically been lacking. Budget allocations to SAPS and related institutions have not kept pace with growing security demands. Regulatory bodies such as PSIRA have limited enforcement capacity. Politically, security policy has often been driven by short-term crisis management rather than long-term structural reform. Meanwhile, in many communities, trust in both local and national policing institutions has collapsed, making community-based initiatives difficult to sustain.

Unless these systemic constraints are addressed head-on, the NSS risks becoming yet another well-written plan that never fully moves off the page. Its strength lies in diagnosing the problem and pointing to the correct areas for intervention. Its weakness, at this stage, is the lack of concrete operational detail and credible assurance that implementation will follow. For the NSS to break with the failures of the past, it will need more than policy alignment, it will need hard decisions, measurable progress, and a transparent, accountable delivery framework that earns the confidence of the public.

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The commission will be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

The President made the announcement during an address to the nation on Sunday evening.

The establishment of the commission is related to serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

“Among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials resisting criminal influence.

“The commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations.

“These institutions are the South African Police Service, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane,” he said.

Furthermore, the commission will also investigate if any National Executive members “responsible for the criminal justice system, were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above”.

“The commission will be asked to report on the effectiveness or failure of oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing such infiltration. It will make findings and recommendations for criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions and institutional reform.

“Once established, the commission shall consider prima facie evidence relating to the involvement of individuals currently employed within law enforcement or intelligence agencies.

“Where appropriate, the commission must make recommendations on the employment status of such officials, including whether they should be suspended pending the outcome of further investigations,” President Ramaphosa explained.

The commission will submit interim reports after three and six months.

“The commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and evidence the commission will uncover.

“It is critical that these matters be attended to with the necessary urgency and thoroughness.

“The commission is expected to complete its work and submit a final report to the President. The final report of the commission will be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chief Justice,” he said.

The President noted that the commission’s establishment comes as the country is making progress in the rebuilding and strengthening of law enforcement agencies and security services.

“In recent years, the South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other bodies have been making important inroads in the fight against organised crime and corruption. It is essential that we maintain this momentum and that we intensify this work.

“We will ensure that the SAPS and other law enforcement agencies continue to function without hindrance as the commission undertakes its work. I call on all members of our law enforcement agencies and security services to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and adhering to their code of conduct.

President Ramaphosa emphasised that the establishment of the commission is a testament to “our commitment to the rule of law, transparency and accountability”.

“I call on all South Africans to support the commission in its work and, where appropriate, to provide any information or assistance the commission may require.

“In establishing this commission of inquiry, we are affirming our commitment to the rule of law, transparency and accountability, and to building a South Africa in which all people are safe and secure,” President Cyril Ramaphosa said.

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