THE City of Johannesburg has taken a bold and decisive step to reclaim its inner city, protect critical infrastructure, and restore law and order through a historic intergovernmental collaboration involving the City, the South African Police Service (SAPS), and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
Under the leadership of City Manager, Dr. Floyd Brink, the City is intensifying its efforts to confront some of Johannesburg’s most deeply entrenched urban challenges, including illegal mining, organised criminal syndicates, hijacked buildings, infrastructure vandalism, cable theft, and urban decay.
This follows a high-level engagement between the City’s executive leadership and the SANDF, as part of a coordinated intervention that has now been elevated to the highest levels of government, with presidential authorisation secured for SANDF deployment until 31 March 2027.
“This is not business as usual. Johannesburg is saying clearly: no more lawlessness. No more no-go areas. No more surrendering our economic engine to criminal syndicates,” said Dr. Brink.
Dr. Floyd Brink continues to demonstrate hands-on leadership, taking the fight for Johannesburg directly to the streets and driving solutions through strategic partnerships that cut across all three spheres of government.
This intervention represents a direct response to longstanding jurisdictional challenges that have historically limited coordinated enforcement. Through this collaboration, the City is helping close those gaps and creating an integrated operational model built on intelligence-led action, shared accountability, and decisive enforcement.
The City has formally initiated this intervention and will further engage provincial and national law enforcement leadership to ensure maximum operational support.
“This is a turning point. If Johannesburg can successfully confront these challenges, it sends a powerful message to cities across South Africa that lawlessness can be defeated through bold leadership, collaboration, and decisive action.”
Image provided (City Manager, Dr. Floyd Brink says the City is intensifying efforts to fight crime.)
