Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi Welcomes Specialized SAPS Units to Combat Organized Crime Surge

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi welcomes new SAPS units targeting political killings and kidnappings. Read about the 2026 strategy to secure South Africa's economic hub.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 5:36 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from EWN

A Strategic Response to Gauteng's Crime Wave

Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub, is intensifying its legislative and tactical battle against a sophisticated surge in violent crime. Premier Panyaza Lesufi has officially welcomed the formation of two specialized units within the South African Police Service (SAPS), characterizing the move as a "key step" in dismantling organized criminal networks. This development follows the release of recent provincial crime statistics, which highlighted an alarming spike in commercial crimes, cash-in-transit heists, and kidnappings. The new units represent a shift toward specialized, intelligence-led policing rather than generalized patrolling.

The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT)

The first of the two units, the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), is mandated to investigate the rising number of political assassinations and targeted killings of government officials. In recent years, local governance in Gauteng has been destabilized by violence aimed at municipal leaders and whistleblowers. The PKTT will focus exclusively on these high-profile cases, aiming to uncover the syndicates and motives behind politically motivated hits. By isolating these investigations, the SAPS hopes to provide a level of security that allows public officials to perform their duties without fear of lethal reprisal.

Targeting Extortion and Infrastructure Sabotage

The second specialized unit is designed to combat a "triple threat" of modern urban crime: kidnapping, extortion, and the targeting of critical infrastructure projects. Gauteng has seen the rise of so-called "construction mafias" that extort developers and sabotage government building sites. This unit will be equipped to handle the complex negotiations involved in kidnapping cases while simultaneously protecting essential infrastructure—such as power stations and water facilities—from criminal interference. The goal is to secure the province's economic foundations and protect citizens from the growing ransom industry.