Ian Cameron, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, addresses concerns over delays in SANDF deployment to combat gang violence and illegal mining.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson, Ian Cameron, has sharply criticised delays by the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in finalising plans to deploy soldiers to areas hardest hit by gang violence and illegal mining.
Cameron says the slow progress and lack of coordination between the two security agencies was deeply concerning, especially after the deployment was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
“The lack of planning, uncertainty, and silo mentality has been evident in the pre-deployment phase since the announcement made by the President during the 2026 State of the Nation Address. A presidential directive cannot be handled with such lethargy and apparent disinterest,” Cameron said.
The committee chair said discussions with Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police and the Joint Standing Committee on Defence had exposed a worrying lack of collaboration between SAPS and the SANDF.
He warned that the apparent disconnect between the two institutions could undermine the success of the operation.
“If the SAPS and SANDF cannot agree on a simple matter such as command and control, then the effectiveness of the mission will inevitably be undermined,” Cameron emphasised.
Cameron said that nearly a month after the President’s announcement, senior leadership within both agencies had still not reached agreement on a clear operational plan for the deployment.
He also raised concerns about indications from the SANDF that the operation may be implemented nationwide, which appears to differ from the President’s original announcement that suggested a more targeted intervention.
According to Cameron, a focused approach would have been preferable, particularly to manage the so-called “balloon effect”, where increased law enforcement pressure in one area pushes criminal activity into neighbouring communities.
The Portfolio Committee on Police now plans to urgently convene a meeting with both SAPS and the SANDF to demand clarity on the deployment plans.
Cameron said the leadership of both organisations would be required to brief the committees and account for the delays.
“The committee will urgently undertake the approval process to enable the meeting to sit,” he said.
The planned briefing is expected to shed light on when and how the deployment will take place, as government faces mounting pressure to respond to rising gang violence and illegal mining activities in several parts of the country.
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