The Hawks have emphasised the urgent need to prioritise the fight against transnational organised crime as a key strategy to reduce South Africa’s high crime rate. The call was made during the second day of the National Police Summit currently taking place in Ekurhuleni.
The three-day summit is focused on adapting policing strategies to a rapidly evolving criminal landscape and strengthening law enforcement methods.
Hawks head, Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, highlighted that transnational organised crime — including human trafficking and weapons smuggling — poses a significant threat to national security. He warned that many of these crimes have a violent and international dimension.
“Transnational organised crime is multifaceted. Human trafficking often involves violence, and trafficked weapons are being used in crimes such as cash-in-transit heists and police killings. Most organised crime activities in the country have an international component,” Lebeya said.
Meanwhile, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya, addressed long-standing tensions between police detectives and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), which he said have hampered successful prosecutions.
“For too long, we've seen finger-pointing between police and the NPA. When we investigate and make arrests, collaboration must continue through the prosecution and sentencing phases, with correctional services and other departments stepping in for rehabilitation and reintegration,” Sibiya said.
He stressed the need for a united approach across law enforcement and justice institutions to ensure that criminal cases result in meaningful convictions and societal reform.
The summit continues as stakeholders seek solutions to enhance South Africa’s policing effectiveness and justice system coordination in the face of rising and complex criminal threats.