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The presence of soldiers should inspire confidence and not fear in communities, said Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, Deputy National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), on Tuesday at a joint parade by the army, police and City of Cape Town metro police in Belhar.<\/p>\n
A total of 2 200 soldiers from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are due to be deployed in several provinces on Wednesday, 1 April until 31 March 2027, to assist the SAPS in fighting crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are going to be led by our intelligence structures,\u201d Mosikili said.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s parade reaffirms that we are prepared, we are ready, and we want to take this baton and run with it without fear or favour.\u201d<\/p>\n
SAPS members, the SAPS K9 unit, soldiers, and metro police participated in Tuesday\u2019s parade. The soldiers performed the national salute, and the SAPS band played the national anthem.<\/p>\n
A dog from the SAPS K9 unit at the parade in Belhar on Tuesday. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
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Fransina Lukas, chair of the National Community Police Forum, said that while the forum supports the deployment, the root causes of crime should also be addressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout strong and sustained social interventions, we will continue to fight the symptoms rather [than] address the cause,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She added that the criminal justice system must be strengthened \u2013 \u201cfrom policing to investigating to prosecution and ultimately to successful convictions\u201d.<\/p>\n
A total of 2 200 soldiers have been deployed nationwide to assist the police in fighting crime. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
Anroux Marais, Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, said she appreciates the bravery of those involved in the deployment.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are the shield between lawlessness and the safety of our communities,\u201d she said. \u201cWe appeal to our residents to support your efforts during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
She called on the soldiers to \u201ctreat law-abiding citizens with dignity and respect\u201d.<\/p>\n
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A soldier participates in a joint parade between the SAPS, SANDF and Cape Town metro police on Tuesday. Image: Ashraf Hendricks\/GroundUp<\/p>\n
SANDF director of operations Brigadier-General Martin Gopane said the objective was to reduce violent crime.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese communities are our friends, these communities are our brothers and sisters and we are there to protect them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Read\/listen:
Hawks, SAPS snub parliament hearing on lottery corruption
Police chief Masemola faces criminal charges
Inside the R360m SAPS tender scandal: How procurement systems are gamed
NPA means business, but police rot runs deep<\/p>\n
\u00a9 2026 GroundUp. This article was first published\u00a0here.<\/p>\n
#Army #prepares #Cape #Town #deployment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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