April Fools Day SANDF Deployment Welcomed

Statement by Nicholas Gotsell MP – DA NCOP Member on Security & Justice:

The Democratic Alliance welcomes the confirmation given in a joint meeting of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence, the Portfolio Committee on Police and the Select Committee on Security and Justice today, that the SANDF deployment in support of SAPS will commence on 1 April 2026. Communities facing daily violence deserve urgent intervention and we support any deployment that strengthens safety on the ground.

But the latest briefing exposed serious gaps that demand immediate oversight – particularly around money, basic resources and the role of private security which the SANDF announces would form part of their cooperation plan with SAPS.

First, Parliament still does not have clarity on how the R823 million allocated to this deployment will be spent. We have asked whether proper financial controls, registers and audits are in place – not only for the many rands and cents the SANDF have requested, but for every weapon and every round of ammunition committed to this operation. Given the scale of corruption investigations already facing the Department of Defence, oversight over this budget is not a technical exercise; it is a constitutional duty.

Second, the briefing revealed the stark reality of resource constraints. When law enforcement is confronting highly organised criminal networks and refuses to expand basic policing powers to capable governments, it is unacceptable that basic capabilities remain limited – including the availability of vehicles and narcotics detection dogs, a fundamental tool in combating drugs, firearms and organised crime. If we are serious about disrupting criminal syndicates, we must start by equipping our officers with the most basic operational resources.

Third, officials confirmed that the operation will involve cooperation with private security companies, yet could not provide assurance that these firms have been properly vetted to ensure they are not linked to criminal or gang networks. In provinces where organised crime has infiltrated legitimate businesses and in areas such as the Cape Flats, this is a risk that cannot be ignored.

The DA supports this deployment. But support must go hand in hand with rigorous oversight.