Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced significant funding allocations to strengthen South Africa’s law enforcement and defence capabilities in the fight against organised crime.
According to Godongwana, R1 billion has been allocated to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and a further R1 billion to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) fund.
“The President at the State of the Nation Address announced the deployment of the defence force alongside police to fight illegal mining and gangsterism. To support this and other efforts to intensify law and order, spending on peace and security increases from R268.2 billion in 2025/26 to R291.2 billion in 2028/29. The Border Management Authority has been allocated an additional R990 million over the medium term to build capacity by filling 738 posts,” Godongwana said.
An additional R2.7 billion has been earmarked for defence over the medium term to improve operations, including maintaining South Africa’s ongoing efforts to counter organised crime. Addressing questions about the legal framework for deploying the SANDF, Godongwana explained:
“The law acknowledges that the President may at any point in time deploy the armed forces. It doesn’t say the President will first check whether there’s a budget or something else. If there’s war tomorrow, he can say, hey, just go… No, he is going to send the army to fight. That’s how these things work. It’s for us to say, in light of section 16 of the PFMA, consider that deployment as an emergency. We will be working with the Defence Force in this regard to finalise that. In addition, we have given both the Defence Force and the police, through the CARA fund, one billion each for the crime prevention strategy.”
The Budget also includes R883 million shifted from the Department of Justice and Community Development to the Office of the Chief Justice, enabling the office to manage its own budget and enhance its independence from the executive from 1 April 2026.
RISE Mzansi welcomed the allocations but urged faster action on specialised courts:
“The allocation of R1 billion each to the South African Police Service and the South African National Defence Force specifically to combat organised crime is a necessary step. We also welcome the additional R990 million allocated to the Border Management Authority to fill 738 critical positions, which must translate into stronger immigration systems. While we note the commitment to specialised courts, it is concerning that funding will only be considered later in the year once costing is finalised. Justice delayed for our communities is justice denied.”
The funding announcements underline government’s focus on combining law enforcement, defence, and judicial reforms to tackle organised crime and improve security nationwide.
anita.nkonki@inl.co.za