Ramaphosa Prioritises Fight Against Organised Crime in 2026 State of the Nation Address

President Cyril Ramaphosa told the South African nation during the 2026 State of the Nation Address that a stronger, safer and more secure South Africa is a Government of National Unity priority.

The cost of crime is measured, he said, in the lives lost and futures cut short, and, "in the sense of fear that permeates our society and the reluctance of businesses to invest", the President explained.

Even more unacceptable is that, in the Western Cape and Gauteng, children are caught in the crossfire of gang wars. Adding to the trauma, people are chased out of their homes by illegal miners in Kagiso in Gauteng, women are murdered by their partners in their homes and building sites are shut down by criminals, President Ramaphosa enumerated.

He identified organised crime as the most immediate threat to South Africa's democracy and society as a whole. "Our primary focus this year is stepping up the fight against organised crime and criminal syndicates using technology, intelligence and integrated law enforcement. We will tackle organised crime by consolidating intelligence at national level, identifying priority syndicates and deploying hand-picked, multi-disciplinary intervention teams focused on dismantling criminal networks."

He added: "To strengthen our fight against gang violence, I am deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the police, as we did to great effect with illegal mining."

He has directed the Minister of Police and the SANDF to develop a tactical plan to deploy security forces in these two provinces to deal with both gang violence and illegal mining. As required in the Constitution, he will inform the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces regarding the timing, place of deployment of our soldiers and what it will cost.

On gang violence, President Ramaphosa said the government has to act to rid the country of this scourge and to this end, the government is implementing an integrated strategy to address the root causes of crime through coordinated interventions across society, from street lighting to access to social services.

"We are going to tackle gun crime by streamlining legislation and regulations on licencing, possessing and trading in firearms and ammunition. We will increase enforcement of existing gun laws. We are putting more boots on the ground through the recruitment this year of 5 500 additional police officers, adding to the 20 000 new officers we announced in previous SoNAs," the President concluded.