Organised Crime Wearing Designer Suits
Firoz Cachalia has raised the alarm about organised crime syndicates sneaking into political parties and government bodies, often hiding behind flashy outfits and a facade of respectability. Speaking at the release of South Africa’s second-quarter crime statistics for 2025 in Pretoria on Friday, Cachalia described these criminals as driven by “greed and a lust for power and wealth”. His words highlight a growing worry that such networks are eroding public trust and threatening the country’s safety and economy. As South Africa battles high crime rates, this latest data shows some improvements but also areas needing urgent action.
The statistics, covering July to September 2025, reveal a mixed picture with drops in some violent crimes but rises in others. Cachalia’s speech ties into broader probes like the Madlanga Commission, which is looking into claims of criminal influence in police and politics. For everyday South Africans, these issues mean more than numbers – they affect safety in homes, streets, and businesses.
Cachalia’s Stark Warning on Hidden Criminal Networks
In his address, Cachalia painted a vivid picture of organised crime’s new face. “These criminals, as we have seen recently, wear fancy suits and designer clothes, pretending they are legitimate businesspeople,” he said. He pointed to how these groups fuel violence, corruption, and instability, making it hard for the country to grow jobs and attract investment.
He linked this to real harms like drugs flooding communities, destroying young lives, and crimes such as kidnappings, vehicle hijackings, gang violence, and cash-in-transit heists that hit ordinary people and small enterprises hard. Cachalia stressed that many serious crimes do not even show up in official stats, which is why he chose to spotlight them.
This comes after recent events, like a businessman accused of murder showing up to a parliamentary inquiry in expensive designer gear, raising eyebrows about ties between crime bosses and power players. Cachalia warned that state capture, which hurt the country before, is evolving into new shapes. He referenced the theft of large sums from Gauteng’s health department, affecting places like Tembisa Hospital, as an example of how greed diverts money meant for public good.
“Tackling organised crime and its associated corruption must be a national priority,” Cachalia urged. He called for following the money trail to hit criminals in their wallets, pushing for quick prosecutions and better protection for witnesses.
Key Highlights from the Q2 2025 Crime Statistics
The second-quarter figures for 2025 show some positive shifts but also worrying trends. Contact crimes, which include murder, rape, robbery, and assault, dropped by 3.1% compared to the same period in 2024, going from over 160,000 cases to about 155,000. This marks a step forward in curbing violence that touches people’s daily lives.
Murder rates saw a slight decrease, with over 7,000 people killed in just three months – down from previous highs but still alarmingly high. Assault and robbery also declined significantly, offering some relief to communities plagued by these issues. Carjackings, commercial robberies, and residential break-ins fell by 15%, showing efforts to target these crimes are paying off.
However, not all news is good. Attempted murder and sexual offences increased, with sexual crimes like rape and assault rising despite overall drops in contact crimes. This highlights ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable groups, especially women and children.
Top hotspots for murders remain in areas like Nyanga in the Western Cape, Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal, and Philippi East, where gang activity drives much of the violence. Central business districts also stand out as places where assault, rape, and robbery spike, often linked to urban crowding and economic pressures.
Compared to five years ago, some categories hit lows not seen since 2021, but experts say sustained work is needed to keep the momentum. The stats also show 41 police officers murdered in the past six months, mostly off duty, underscoring the dangers even law enforcers face.
Three Core Priorities to Fight Crime
Cachalia outlined three main focuses to tackle these challenges. First, going after organised crime head-on, as it threatens safety, growth, and security. He called for specialist teams and teamwork between police, prosecutors, tax authorities, regulators, and private firms to dismantle these networks.
Second, making the police service more professional to rebuild trust. “This speaks to concerns about political interference and the abuse of political power, which have harmed the functioning of the police service. We need a professional police service that acts outside the political process, without fear or favour,” he said. He praised most of the 187,000 SAPS members for their hard work under tough conditions and highlighted a DPCI officer who turned down a R100,000 bribe in the Tembisa probe.
Third, rolling out the Integrated Crime and Violence Prevention Strategy, which looks beyond policing to root causes. This includes early childhood programmes, fighting gender-based violence, designing safer public spaces, tackling substance abuse, boosting local governments, rehabilitating offenders, and better coordinating data and efforts.
Cachalia noted new strategies against gang violence in provinces like the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. Early wins in the Western Cape show detectives and prosecutors teaming up on cases, while community leaders work closer with police.
He plans a visit to the Western Cape next year to align efforts with Premier Alan Winde and others. In Gauteng, areas like Westbury see rising gang activity, needing targeted responses.
Building Partnerships and Protecting Officers
Cachalia thanked private groups like Business Against Crime South Africa and Business Leadership South Africa for helping modernise police stations and secure borders. The Joint Initiative on Combating Crime and Corruption (JICC) is key in these ties.
He stressed protecting whistleblowers, with new laws in the works from the justice department. On police safety, he vowed more support after the recent killings.
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