Army archive photo. (Photo: SANW/X)
The DA says the planned deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SADF) to assist the South African Police Service (SAPD) in the fight against gang violence on the Cape Flats cannot proceed without a clear strategy and proper planning.
Nicholas Gotsell, DA MP in the National Council of Provinces portfolio on security and justice, says the party supports a fixed-term deployment of the military, but warns that the distribution of roles, command structures and criteria for success have not yet been clearly outlined.
According to Gotsell, recent submissions to parliament have raised serious questions about how the operation will work.
“Weeks after the president announced the deployment, oversight committees still have not been given a clear strategic framework explaining how the operation will operate, who will lead it and how success will be measured.”
During a joint committee meeting between the SAPS and the SANW last week, the DA also raised questions about soldiers’ training for action in civilian environments.
“Parliament has been assured that the necessary training is already underway. However, after further questions by the DA, this assurance was contradicted at the weekend when the acting minister of police admitted that the deployment must be delayed due to insufficient training and planning.”
Gotsell says this contradiction highlights why strict parliamentary oversight of the deployment is essential.
He points out that police work and military operations have very different mandates and training environments.
“The SAPS upholds the law in civilian spaces and builds cases for prosecution, while the SANS is trained for combat operations. Without proper planning, training and coordination, joint deployments can lead to confusion and operational failure.”
According to Gotsell, it also appears that the same approach is being considered for both gang violence and illegal mining – two crime environments that he says are fundamentally different from each other.
“Illegal mining is often organized around abandoned mines, while gang violence on the Cape Flats is a fluid, community-based conflict. It requires a focused, intelligence-driven strategy designed specifically for organized crime networks in these communities.”
He warns that a one-size-fits-all approach will not work.
The DA meanwhile says it will exercise strict supervision over the deployment through both the parliamentary structures for police and defence.
“Communities affected by gang violence deserve a response that is targeted, disciplined and effective, not one that is hastily assembled.”