“We Can’t Tolerate This”: Ramaphosa Orders SAPS Lifestyle Audits, SANDF Deployment in Crime Crackdown

During his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa lamented the state of policing in the country.

Ramaphosa said the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and the Ad Hoc Committee in Parliament had exposed rampant corruption within the SAPS and metro police departments.

“We can’t tolerate this,” he said, adding that investigations into matters arising from the Madlanga Commission would be conducted swiftly by a newly appointed task team.

The State Security Agency will re-vet the top brass of SAPS and metro police officers.

“The vetting process will include lifestyle audits, as we have successfully done with previous commissions. We will use the recommendations of the Madlanga Commission to make far-reaching changes,” he said.

Ramaphosa said they were determined that the commission’s findings and recommendations would lay the basis for fundamental reform of the criminal justice system.

“We are confident that these efforts will succeed, because the great majority of police officers are dedicated to upholding the law and diligently serving the people of South Africa.”

The president also announced that the fight against organised crime and corruption would be given priority, as it posed the most immediate threat to the country’s democracy.

He said comprehensive plans to strengthen the fight against criminal networks were in the pipeline. One of the measures to be implemented is the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to deal with gang violence and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng, respectively.

“Our primary focus this year is on stepping up the fight against organised crime and corruption, and we will do so 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 multidisciplinary intervention teams focused on dismantling criminal networks,” he said.

Ramaphosa also said that, in strengthening the fight against gang violence and illegal mining, he would deploy the SANDF to support the police.

“I have directed the Minister of Police and the SANDF to develop a technical plan on where our security forces should be deployed within the next few days, in the Western Cape and in Gauteng, to deal with gang violence and illegal mining.”

Parliament will be informed about the deployment and related costs.

Ramaphosa promised that the government was implementing an integrated strategy to address the root causes of crime through coordinated interventions across society.

He also urged the nation to draw strength from the values articulated in the Constitution.

“Our economy is growing again. While we have experienced four consecutive quarters of GDP growth, we know that it has to grow much higher and much faster to meet our social and economic challenges.”

Ramaphosa said the government had brought an end to load shedding and was building a more dynamic and resilient energy system.

“We have made achievements in improving the performance of our ports and freight rail lines, steadily increasing the volume of goods that we move in and out of our country.”

The president added that work done to rebuild key institutions after state capture was showing results.

“The South African Revenue Service is once again a world-class tax authority. The Investigating Directorate continues with this work and is making progress in the prosecution of those who need to be prosecuted,” he said.

Despite the progress being made, Ramaphosa said there were still challenges ahead.

“Although we are moving forward, we must not claim any easy victories. We are still far from where we need to be.”

He noted that for too many people life remained hard, jobs were scarce and opportunity was out of reach.

The president also expressed concern about ongoing illegal immigration, describing it as a threat to national security and economic progress.

“Illegal immigration continues to pose a risk to our security, our stability and economic progress,” Ramaphosa said.

“We will address this problem while ensuring that the fundamental rights of every person in this country are upheld and protected.”

He said additional steps would be taken this year to strengthen border security.

“Funding to strengthen border security will be prioritised, covering infrastructure, technology and personnel,” he said.

Key border posts will be redeveloped through public-private partnerships, and the electronic travel authorisation system will be extended to all international airports and the busiest land ports of entry. Authorities are already using drones and other technology more extensively along the country’s borders, he added.

DAILY NEWS