Gauteng increases budget to fight crime

By Thapelo Molefe

Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has tabled a R2.3 billion budget for the Department of Community Safety for the 2025/26 financial year, vowing to intensify the province’s fight against crime with better equipment, improved technology and stronger partnerships across government and civil society.

Speaking during the budget vote on Wednesday, Lesufi said Gauteng was beginning to see the results of its aggressive crime prevention approach. 

“Gauteng has seen a decrease of 7.9% in community reported serious crimes during the first three months of 2025,” he said, quoting recent crime statistics from Provincial Police Commissioner Lt General Mthombeni.

In recent weeks, Gauteng police and partners have made high-profile arrests. 

“Three days ago, a stone’s throw from this legislature, a group of criminals specialising in business robberies invaded various businesses, unaware that we’ve been monitoring them,” Lesufi said. 

“After a mini skirmish, four of the criminals were reconnected with their