There is renewed hope for communities and businesses in Gauteng following the announcement that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has established two specialised units to strengthen the fight against organised crime in the province.
Experts say the move could mark an important step toward tackling crimes that have increasingly shaken public confidence, including kidnappings, extortion, and politically motivated killings.
In a statement, the Ministry of Police said one of tyshe specialised teams will focus on investigating political assassinations and politically motivated killings of government officials.
The second unit will target kidnappings, extortion, and criminal activities linked to infrastructure projects, crimes that have increasingly affected both communities and businesses.
Crime activist Yusuf Abramjee said this move signals recognition of the growing threat posed by organised criminal networks in the province.
“The establishment of specialised units to tackle political killings, kidnappings and extortion in Gauteng is an important step,” Abramjee told the Saturday Star.
“These crimes have escalated in recent years and are often driven by organised criminal networks. Dedicated units with the right skills and focus are necessary if we are serious about dismantling these syndicates and protecting communities.”
However, he cautioned that the creation of specialised teams alone will not solve the problem.
“Specialised units on their own will not solve the problem,” Abramjee said. “What is critical is strong leadership, experienced investigators, proper intelligence support, and adequate resources.”
He added that previous task teams have sometimes struggled to deliver long-term results due to a lack of sustained support and oversight.
“There must also be accountability and measurable outcomes. We have seen task teams created before, but without sustained support and oversight, their impact has been limited. These units must work closely with prosecutors and intelligence structures to ensure that cases are properly built and convictions secured,” he said.
According to Abramjee, the formation of the units also sends an important message to communities affected by crime.
“The creation of these units sends a signal that authorities recognise the seriousness of kidnappings, extortion and politically linked violence. Communities and businesses have been deeply affected by these crimes, and public confidence in law enforcement has taken a knock.”
He said public trust would ultimately depend on the results delivered by the units.
“If these units are properly resourced and start delivering real results, arrests, successful prosecutions, and the dismantling of criminal networks, then it can begin to restore some confidence. Ultimately, the public will judge them by their results, not by the announcement,” Abramjee said.
The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety, Bandile Masuku also described the move as a decisive step in confronting increasingly sophisticated criminal threats.
“The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety welcomes the decisive intervention by SAPS to establish two specialised units in Gauteng aimed at confronting some of the most dangerous and complex criminal threats facing the province,” Masuku said.
“These crimes have increasingly become sophisticated and coordinated, posing a serious threat not only to public safety, but also to economic stability and service delivery in the province.”
The committee’s support follows a recent briefing by Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni the provincial police commissioner, who presented the third-quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 financial year to the committee on 5 March.
During the briefing, covering the period between October and December 2025, the committee was told that 10 police officers were murdered in Gauteng within just three months, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by both law enforcement and residents.
Masuku said the establishment of a specialised task team focusing on kidnappings and related crimes could play a key role in disrupting organised criminal syndicates.
“This targeted intervention will play a critical role in strengthening investigative capacity and disrupting organised criminal syndicates responsible for these offences,” he said.
Meanwhile, security experts warn that vehicle-related crimes, including carjackings, often intersect with broader criminal patterns such as kidnappings and robberies.
Charmaine Mthombeni spokesperson for King Price, an insurance company offered insight into how criminals are increasingly exploiting ride-hailing platforms to target both drivers and passengers, with carjacking identified as one of the growing concerns in the province.
“While most e-hailing trips take place without incident, we are seeing increasing reports of criminals using ride-hailing platforms as an opportunity to target both drivers and passengers,” Mthombeni said.
“In some cases, criminals request trips using fraudulent profiles or lure drivers to isolated areas where they are vulnerable. These incidents often follow broader vehicle crime patterns, where criminals look for predictable behaviour or situations where drivers may be distracted or unable to leave quickly.”
She said motorists and ride-hailing drivers should remain vigilant.
“Prevention starts with awareness. Motorists should stay alert at intersections and off-ramps, avoid distractions while driving, and always keep doors locked and windows closed,” she said.
“Leaving enough space between your car and the vehicle in front of you can provide an escape route if something feels wrong.”
Mthombeni added that additional security tools such as vehicle tracking devices, immobilisers, and dashcams can help deter criminals and assist in investigations.
“Many modern tracking systems also include panic buttons that allow drivers to discreetly alert response teams if they feel threatened. These tools cannot eliminate risk, but they can improve recovery rates and response times,” she said.
According to the police ministry, the units are being introduced as part of SAPS’ organised crime strategy, which is designed to guide law enforcement’s response to increasingly complex and coordinated criminal activities.
“The formation of these specialised units forms part of SAPS’ broader organised crime strategy, aimed at strengthening the policing response to increasingly complex and coordinated criminal activities,” the ministry said.
“The first unit is a replication of the Political Killings Task Team model in Gauteng and will focus on investigating political assassinations and politically motivated killings of government officials,” the ministry said
“The establishment of this unit follows the proven effectiveness of the Political Killings Task Team model in dealing with complex and highly sensitive cases.”
“The second specialised unit will focus on crimes related to kidnapping, extortion and offences targeting infrastructure projects,” the ministry said.
Saturday Star
Anita Nkonki
iol.co.za
