President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to leveraging technology in law enforcement, saying the country is adopting surveillance, analytics, and smart policing solutions to modernize crime-fighting efforts.

Speaking during his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa highlighted the crucial role of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital forensics in combatting financial crimes, corruption, and violent offenses.

“We have seen the value of technology in fighting crime,” he stated. “By using AI in its fraud risk detection and verification work, SARS has prevented the leakage of over R95 billion in impermissible refunds, recovered R20 billion in revenue, and dismantled an illicit tobacco and gold scheme.”

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is strengthening its efforts against organized crime through targeted operations such as Operation Shanela, which has successfully led to arrests, firearm recoveries, and the seizure of stolen vehicles.

The President emphasised that tackling gun violence remains a top priority, instructing law enforcement to “prioritise reducing gun-related crime and violence, prevent firearms from entering the illicit market, and recover illegal firearms in circulation.”

To enhance investigative capabilities, SAPS will expand its Detective Service by 4,000 personnel through internal recruitment. Meanwhile, efforts to combat gender-based violence (GBV) will continue with the expansion of support services, including 65 Thuthuzela Care Centres and 16 new sexual offenses courts.

Ramaphosa also reiterated his administration’s unwavering stance against corruption. “We want a nation that is free of corruption,” he said. The establishment of the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has strengthened efforts to prosecute state capture cases, with over R10 billion recovered in related cases.

To further combat financial crime, the government is building a world-class digital forensics lab to investigate high-level corruption. The Special Investigating Unit and Asset Forfeiture Unit have already made significant recoveries, and legislative reforms are underway to bolster whistleblower protection and streamline anti-corruption measures.

On the international front, South Africa has made progress in its efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, addressing 16 of the 22 identified weaknesses in its law enforcement system.

Ramaphosa concluded by reinforcing South Africa’s commitment to peace, stability, and global partnerships. “We continue through our international relations to advance the well-being of the South African people as we seek to advance the well-being of humanity,” he said.

With a firm focus on smart policing, anti-corruption measures, and justice system reforms, South Africa is taking decisive steps to ensure safety, accountability, and a crime-free society.

Nelson Mandela observed that: “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children”. In that regard, SA scores lowly — yet it doesn’t have to be this way. Revisit the heinous crime committed against Junior Mabandla.

Junior, a six-year-old boy from Pienaar, near Mpumalanga’s provincial capital Mbombela, went missing on June 3 2024 after leaving home to buy sweets with friends. He never returned.

I was in Shanghai, China, when news broke that Junior’s remains had been found a month after he went missing. What shocked me most was that his remains were found in a shopping bag, along with his clothes, buried in someone else’s grave.

Junior was finally laid to rest after being brutally killed by what I call SA’s “real free men” — the criminals who roam our streets. An 18-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the case, but how many of us remember this crime today?

The country’s attention, however, shifted to the next wave of violence — extortionists and gangs terrorising citizens.

Just last week, the close-knit community of Kraaifontein in Cape Town was devastated by the murder of a 64-year-old grandmother, Lindi Sehlabela. She was shot in the head after refusing to pay protection money to a ruthless gang.

The killers of Junior and Lindi will live relatively comfortable lives in prison because we believe in rehabilitating “monsters”.

It feels like with each passing day, SA is becoming less safe.

On Tuesday, police minister Senzo Mchunu declared in his parliamentary presentation, “We are rejecting crime and criminals in SA.”

The police minister’s declaration needs to be backed by concrete action, otherwise the rhetoric will remain cold comfort for those affected by violent crime.

I believe SA can learn from China, which has a population exceeding 1.4-billion, which relies on widespread surveillance to tackle crime. In China, a suspect can be tracked using tech and located within 20 minutes of committing a crime.

Perhaps it’s time for South Africans to prioritise safety over privacy.

During my time in Shanghai, I was struck by how safe the city felt, thanks to its extensive surveillance network. I saw young children — of Junior’s age — riding bikes to the shops before sunset without fear.

That, to me, is true freedom — a stark contrast to SA, where privacy concerns often outweigh the need for security. Critics argue that widespread surveillance violates international privacy standards, which limit the collection and use of biometric data to those involved in wrongdoing.