SAPS and SANDF must explain plan to tackle border gang

I will today be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to the Minister of Police and the Minister of Defence to determine what steps are being taken to address the violent activities of a gang operating on the Mozambique-South Africa border.

The gang, known as the Ninjas, operates from the Lebombo Mountains. The gang has terrorised the local community and has reportedly been responsible for brutal murders, rape, theft and hijackings.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has flatly denied any knowledge of the gang. Furthermore, Operation Carona, a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) border security operation, has failed to deal with the gang's reign of terror despite the promised deployment of military companies to the Kruger National Park border.

The failure of SAPS and the SANDF border security operation to clamp down on the gang's activities has resulted in the continued victimisation of the nearby Komatipoort community. Local investigations have revealed that no maintenance or patrols are taking place along the part of the border where the gang is based; a 2km stretch of border fence in the area is also missing.

We cannot allow the Komatipoort community to continue to live in fear. 

SAPS and the SANDF must explain why they have failed to address the Ninjas' activities, and what steps they will take to ensure that the surrounding community is protected and the gang members brought to justice. 

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, November 21 2011

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