Parliamentary Portfolio Committees on Police and Mineral Resources have urged strict respect for human rights as the SA National Defence Force begins operations in crime-ravaged areas of Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The deployment follows a directive by President Cyril Ramaphosa for the military to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in tackling entrenched criminal networks, including illegal mining syndicates, violent gangs and construction mafias that have tightened their grip on communities.
Hundreds of soldiers have already begun moving into affected areas. The two provinces have been under heavy criminal activity in recent years.
But lawmakers warned that the presence of soldiers among civilians carries serious risks if not tightly controlled.
After a joint meeting on Wednesday, the committees stressed that the operation must remain police-led, with the military playing a supporting role.
They cautioned that soldiers are not primarily trained for civilian policing and that police leadership must ensure constitutional protections are upheld.
The call comes against the backdrop of the military’s controversial role during the COVID-19 lockdown, when troops deployed to enforce restrictions were widely criticised for heavy-handed tactics.
Police portfolio committee chair Ian Cameron said senior police leadership must ensure strong safeguards and oversight during the deployment.
“Because the deployment is SAPS-led, it is critical that police members who are trained to operate in civilian environments maintain the highest human rights standards,” Cameron said.
He warned that without clear limits and accountability, operations risk turning vulnerable communities into “militarised areas”.
The committees also raised concerns about accountability should misconduct occur.
While the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is mandated to investigate police abuses, questions remain about how oversight will be applied to SANDF personnel working alongside police.
Beyond security concerns, lawmakers want the operation to produce measurable results in courtrooms not just on the streets.
The committees urged closer coordination between the police and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to ensure arrests translate into successful prosecutions.
“Heightened security presence must lead to high conviction rates,” Cameron said.
“Otherwise the same criminal networks will simply return once the deployment ends.”
Lawmakers also warned that targeting only low-level offenders would fail to dismantle the criminal ecosystems behind illegal mining.
Mineral Resources chair Mikateko Mahlaule, said authorities must pursue the syndicate leaders who finance and orchestrate illegal operations.
“There must be a clear plan to arrest kingpins, who are the strategic drivers and primary beneficiaries of illegal mining,” Mahlaule said. “Arresting low-level miners alone will not solve the problem.”
The committees further called for joint operations involving the police, the military and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to disrupt the financial networks sustaining organised crime.
IOL Politics
Kamogelo Moichela
iol.co.za