Specialised teams to confront organised crime head-on
Two newly formed specialised policing units in Gauteng are now operational, targeting political assassinations and extortion-related offences as part of a broader strategy to dismantle organised criminal networks in the province.
The Police Ministry confirmed the launch of the units, describing them as a critical step in strengthening law enforcement's capacity to deal with increasingly sophisticated and coordinated criminal activity. The move forms part of a wider organised crime strategy that guides how police respond to complex threats across the country.
The first unit replicates the Political Killings Task Team model, which has already demonstrated its effectiveness in handling sensitive and high-profile investigations. This Gauteng-based team will concentrate specifically on probing political assassinations and the targeted killing of government officials.
"The Political Killings Task Team in Gauteng is adequately capacitated and comprises skilled members drawn from various disciplines within . These members bring a wealth of expertise and vast investigative experience, ensuring that the unit is well equipped to deal with intricate and high-profile cases."
Personnel assigned to the task team have been drawn from multiple policing disciplines, bringing together a broad range of investigative skills and operational experience. The decision to establish the unit in Gauteng follows the successful track record of similar teams deployed elsewhere in the country.
Second unit zeroes in on kidnapping and infrastructure crimes
The second specialised unit has been tasked with addressing crimes linked to kidnapping, extortion and offences that target infrastructure projects. According to the ministry, these criminal activities have become increasingly tied to organised syndicates intent on undermining both economic progress and public safety.
"These crimes have increasingly been linked to organised criminal networks that seek to undermine economic development and public safety."
Both units have been structured to operate as intelligence-driven, multidisciplinary and prosecution-led entities, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and specialist expertise. The ministry indicated that this approach is part of a series of targeted measures being progressively rolled out to combat the various forms organised crime takes across the province and beyond.
The establishment of these units signals a more aggressive posture from law enforcement authorities in Gauteng, where organised crime has posed persistent challenges to policing efforts and community safety in recent years.
