Ntuthuzelo Nene22 February 2024 | 8:16

Budget 2024: Treasury to pump billions into bolstering SA's crime-fighting efforts

Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana in his 2024 budget speech said a total of R765 billion will be allocated to the Peace and Security Cluster.

Budget 2024: Treasury to pump billions into bolstering SA's crime-fighting efforts

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivers the budget speech during a joint National Assembly sitting at the Cape Town City Hall. Picture: Supplied/@SAgovnews on X

CAPE TOWN - Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said Treasury would be pumping billions of rands to bolster the country's crime-fighting efforts while tabling the budget speech for 2024 on Wednesday.

Godongwana said a total of R765 billion would be allocated to the peace and security cluster.

ALSO READ:

- 5 takeaways from the 2024 budget speech

- Budget 2024: Govt to dig into SA's gold and foreign exchange to reduce R5 trillion debt

The minister said in the coming financial year, 10,000 new police recruits would be trained.

"As part of the country’s responsibility to promote regional peace and stability, this budget will also allocate funding for the deployment of soldiers in Mozambique and the DRC [Democratic Republic of Congo]. Work on costing and identifying the needs for these critical missions will continue throughout the year, and funding will be allocated as such."

Godongwana added that more money would be spent to combat illegal mining.

"Government is using £2.9 billion from the Criminal Asset Recovery Account to combat illegal mining and other priority crimes, with 60% allocated for police deployments, including vehicle procurement."