Lesufi signs agreement with Saps, pledges new resources to fight crime in Gauteng

In an attempt to address growing security concerns, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the South African Police Service (Saps) and local municipalities to intensify crime-fighting efforts across the province.

During the signing ceremony, Lesufi emphasised how crime hinders economic growth and provincial development.

“If we can’t get crime right, we’ll never get our country back [and] we’ll never get the economy of our province right,” Lesufi said.

“If we can’t get crime right, we’ll never attract investment in our province and the tourism will suffer.”

Public safety concerns mounting in Gauteng

The premier stressed the impact of crime on everyday life, noting how residents’ freedoms have been curtailed by security fears.

“We can’t be scared of our own shadows in our own country. We can’t be scared to enjoy the beauty of our province where we are scared to go to parks, malls and entertainment areas because criminals think they have taken over our province,” said Lesufi.

The premier described the signing ceremony as “a signal [of taking back] what belongs to the people of Gauteng. We are taking it back and all those that thought they controlled it. They must know the real forces are coming back to clean our homes.”

ALSO READ: Ramaphosa calls for holistic policing as Lesufi warns of dire consequences if crime persists

Lesufi silences critics as agreement formalised

The new agreement follows commitments made during Lesufi’s state of the province address (Sopa), where he promised to “go a step further by signing a memorandum of cooperation with Saps and municipalities to ensure that we effectively fight crime”.

Lesufi addressed critics who questioned whether the provincial government would follow through on its promises.

“When we mentioned this and said it will happen, as always, doubting Thomases were at play, insulting us,” the premier stated.

The memorandum commits the signatories to the following principles:

• upholding high standards of public service,
• transparent communication,
• resource sharing,
• respecting jurisdictional boundaries,
• finding mutually beneficial crime-fighting solutions, and
• ensuring compliance with all applicable laws.

ALSO READ: Sopa 2025: What are Panyaza Lesufi’s transport and infrastructure promises?

Focus on gender-based violence

A significant portion of Lesufi’s address focused on gender-based violence.

“We can’t have women living in fear in our province,” the premier stated, addressing the provincial commissioner directly.

“And provincial commissioner, you’re quite aware, all the crimes in our province, we’ve taken them down. There’s only one crime that continues to go up and it’s gender-based crime.”

Lesufi outlined a zero-tolerance approach to crimes against women and children.

“We have to start now to ensure that every person that kidnaps, rape or kills our women [is held accountable for their crimes]. We must declare a 72-hour activation to hunt them and ensure that our women are free in our province,” he said.

ALSO READ: Police search for American missionary allegedly kidnapped in Gqeberha

Commitment to unified approach

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero echoed the premier’s sentiments, emphasising the need for coordinated efforts across jurisdictional boundaries.

“This memorandum of understanding is a commitment to that vision. It allows us to operationalise our shared priorities through integrated law enforcement, cross-boundary collaboration, and resource sharing across municipalities,” said Morero.

The mayor stressed that fragmentation can no longer occur in the face of the current security challenges.

“Strategic partnerships — between metros, between spheres of government and between law enforcement agencies — are no longer a ‘nice to have’. They are essential to reclaiming our communities from crime, lawlessness and disorder,” he stated.

NOW READ: Police rescue two businessmen in Midrand after kidnapping ordeal