10 October 2017

The Minister of Police, Mr Fikile Mbalula has requested the support of South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to combat crime to two of the most crime stubborn provinces, Gauteng and Western Cape.

Minister Mbalula notes that in recent past South Africa has been engulfed by an insurgence of extremely violent crime that has made communities feel and be unsafe. The levels of violence in recent months involves the use of weapons of war in the commissions of serious crimes where even innocent by-standers and children have fallen victim of gang related violent crimes.

"When I visited the community of Elsies River, one community leader referred to the terror caused by gangs as an act of terrorism, I want to tell the people of Elsies River that I heard you, and I am acting," Mbalula said.

The most recent incidents of increased violence and shooting incidents and the increase in gangsterism activities in the Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces are becoming a matter of huge concern.

Incidents in the Western Cape and Gauteng Provinces are severely impacting on the following areas:

Crime activities

The following crimes, included but not limited to, are being committed:

• Murder and attempted murder
• Robbery and robbery aggravating
• Assault common and Assault GBH
• Truck and car theft and high-jacking
• Rape
• Trespassing
• Child abuse and neglect
• Abuse of controlled chemicals
• Drug related crimes