Ramaphosa warns criminal syndicates, gangs: 'We'll deal with them'

President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a warning to organised crime syndicates and gangs, saying government is now focussing its energy on dismantling them.

He said the government is in the process of overhauling the country’s criminal justice system through a new initiative that will involve experts from various sectors as part of this process.

Ramaphosa was responding to the debate into his State of the Nation Address (SONA) which was labelled uninspiring by most parties.

The first citizen told the joint sitting that his administration is in the process of establishing a dedicated initiative to oversee the reform of the criminal justice system.

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He said this initiative is learning from the successful model of Operation Vulindlela - which is reforming various sectors of the economy.

Ramaphosa said the initiative will be led by the best experts that the country has to offer and will work closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

He said this is a clear response to the threat of organised crime.

“We have the resources and ability to do so in South Africa. We will not allow criminals and criminal syndicates and gangs to prevail. We are going to go after them, and we will deal with them.”

Ramaphosa said other countries, when faced with the threat of organised crime and the penetration of criminal syndicates, have been able to reform their criminal justice system and restore the rule of law.