The
Gauteng Provincial Government, in partnership with the South African Police
Service (SAPS), municipal law enforcement agencies, and local municipalities
across the province, has today signed a landmark Safety and Security Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) aimed at intensifying the province’s fight against
crime, violence and lawlessness.
The
agreement was formally signed by political and law enforcement leadership at a
public event held in Johannesburg, accompanied by a symbolic joint parade
showcasing the unity of Gauteng’s security forces. The MoU represents a
strategic step forward in embedding a whole-of-government and whole-of-society
approach to building safer, more secure communities across Gauteng.
The
MoU outlines a comprehensive five-year framework for intergovernmental
cooperation, bringing together SAPS, the Department of Cooperative Governance
and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the Gauteng Department of Community Safety,
municipal police departments, district and local municipalities, Community
Policing Forums (CPFs), and Gauteng Crime Wardens.
Key
areas of cooperation include:
•Joint
law enforcement operations across municipal boundaries
•Intelligence
sharing and joint training
•Combatting
crimes such as drug trafficking, cable theft, illegal mining, GBVF, illegal
firearms, and parlous buildings
•Community-based
safety campaigns and capacity building
The
agreement establishes eight dedicated workstreams, including intelligence-led
operations, e-policing, legal and training frameworks, GBVF interventions,
monitoring and evaluation, and coordination of resources and infrastructure.
As a
practical demonstration of the MoU in effect, joint law enforcement operations
were conducted today in key hotspots, with active participation from SAPS,
Metro Police Departments, municipal enforcement units, CPFs, and the Gauteng
Crime Wardens. These operations signal a coordinated and visible commitment to
reclaiming public spaces and protecting residents.
Premier
Panyaza Lesufi praised the signing as a powerful moment of unity and decisive
leadership, stating that Gauteng law enforcement agencies were no longer
operating in silos.
“Today,
we are united under one vision and one plan to protect the people of our
province. I thank all the municipalities who signed this MoU for abandoning
unnecessary bureaucracy and putting the safety of our residents first,” said
the Premier
Premier
Lesufi further emphasised the link between safety and economic development,
saying that the economy of Gauteng would not grow, and that job creation would
be hampered with high levels of crime.
“This
signature is a signal that we are taking back our province. We are pulling all
resources so that we can go into Johannesburg, pull it back, and reclaim it. We
are liberating its streets for the people of this province,” said Premier
Lesufi.
The
signing of the agreement forms part of the province’s integrated response to
the 13 most pressing challenges identified in the Premier’s State of the
Province Address, which include:
•Unemployment
•Cable
theft and critical infrastructure vandalism
•Gender-Based
Violence and Femicide (GBVF)
•Drug
abuse and criminal syndicates
•Illegal
mining
•Water
and electricity insecurity
•Proliferation
of informal settlements
•Poor
service delivery in hospitals and clinics
•Failing
infrastructure and deteriorating CBDs
•Non-functional
traffic lights
•Illegal
trading and parlous buildings
•Crime
and lawlessness
•Insufficient
access to education and schools
The
Safety and Security MoU directly addresses these issues through coordinated
enforcement, infrastructure protection, and public order restoration
initiatives.
The
MoU is active for a period of five years and will be reviewed annually by all
parties to ensure measurable progress, transparency, and responsiveness to
emerging safety challenges. It empowers each participating authority to lead
interventions in their areas of jurisdiction, while ensuring collaboration
across borders.
The
agreement further aligns with the priorities of the Gauteng Growing Together
2030 Plan, reinforcing safety and security as a foundation for inclusive
development, mobility, and investment attraction.