Minister welcomes establishment of specialized units in Gauteng

(Photo: SAPS/ Facebook)

The Ministry of Police has welcomed the establishment of two new specialized units in Gauteng which aim to combat “serious organized crime in the province”.

According to the ministry, the units were “established by the police as part of a wider strategy to fight organized crime”, as criminal networks become increasingly more sophisticated and well-coordinated.

The strategy will improve the police’s response to these complex crime patterns, while gradually introducing various measures and interventions to tackle different forms of organized crime.

The first of the new structures is an expansion of the political assassination task force. “This specialized team will focus on the investigation of political assassinations, as well as politically motivated murders of public servants,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

The decision to establish the unit in Gauteng follows the success of the existing model for investigating complicated and sensitive cases. “The Gauteng Political Homicide Task Force is adequately staffed and consists of skilled members from various disciplines within the police. These members bring a wealth of expertise and extensive investigative experience to the unit, ensuring that it is well-equipped to handle complex and high-profile cases.”

(Photo: Provided/SAPD)

A second specialized unit will meanwhile focus on crimes that are increasingly linked to organized crime networks. “The second specialized unit will focus on crimes related to kidnapping, extortion and violations targeting infrastructure projects. These crimes are increasingly linked to organized criminal networks that seek to undermine economic development and public safety.”

The ministry says both units are already operational and are designed to function as intelligence-driven, multidisciplinary and prosecution-oriented structures.

According to the ministry, the establishment of the units shows the police’s commitment to strengthening its ability to disrupt and dismantle organized criminal networks.