Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have undergone special training to prepare them for interacting with civilians during crime-fighting operations. This was revealed by Athlenda Mathe during a joint operation between the army and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Westbury, west of Johannesburg. The deployment forms part of government’s broader plan to tackle gang violence and illicit mining in several crime hotspot areas. The initiative follows a directive by Cyril Ramaphosa for the police and…

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has exposed fresh contradictions in the testimony of suspended South African Police Service (SAPS) organised crime unit head, Richard Shibiri. Commission evidence shows Shibiri purchased a pair of R19,000 Gucci sneakers and R3,000 Louis Vuitton sandals in Sandton just months after receiving a R70,000 payment from alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Shibiri has repeatedly told the commission the money was a loan to repair his son’s damaged vehicles. He claimed he was in severe…

The North West Provincial Government has commended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in the province to support the South African Police service (SAPS) in its efforts to combat illegal mining and other violent crime. Ramaphosa announced last month during his State of the Nation Address that SANDF members will be deployed in provinces such as Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng to assist the police combat high levels of crime…