SANDF welcomes 2 500 new soldiers ready to fight crime

More than 2 500 new soldiers have completed their basic military training as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) continues to provide support to the police in crime hotspots across the country.

Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga welcomed the recruits at 3 SAI Battalion in the Northern Cape after months of intensive training.

The new soldiers will now move on to the next phase of their military careers, where they will receive specialised training in their respective arms of service.

Their arrival comes as the SANDF remains involved in efforts to combat serious crime alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS), including deployments in areas affected by gang violence in the Western Cape.

New recruits reflect on military training

For recruits Motshilisi Molefe and Daniel Mosako, completing basic training has meant adjusting to a very different environment from civilian life.

Molefe said joining the military required adapting to a new culture and way of life.

“Because when you come in as a civilian, there’s a lot of things you’re accustomed to. And here you’re introduced to a whole new culture and you experience cultural shocks, but then now it’s a part of who I am,” Molefe said.

Mosako said mental strength was particularly important during the demanding training process.

“You have to be very mentally strong, extremely mentally strong, because this, the hardest part is the mental part of it. You see, physically they may try to break you, but if you are not strong mentally, you will fail yourself,” he said.

Soldiers deployed under Operation Prosper

The new recruits are joining the SANDF at a time when thousands of soldiers have been deployed alongside police under Operation Prosper.

The operation is aimed at supporting law enforcement in crime hotspots and tackling organised criminal activity.

The deployment of the military to assist police has, however, raised questions about the cost of the operation and whether it is producing measurable results.

Motshekga defended the SANDF’s role, saying the military is intended to act as a force multiplier rather than replace the police.

“The defence force is not a criminal force. So, we are a force multiplier for police. We stand behind them to make sure that they do their work with our backing,” she said.

Addressing organised crime

The minister said the SANDF can also provide intelligence capabilities to assist police in addressing organised crime at its source.

“What we have to do most as the defence force is also to help them with intelligence,” Motshekga said.

She said the focus should extend beyond arresting criminals to addressing how illegal drugs enter the country.

For the newly trained soldiers, the immediate priority is to complete their specialised training and prepare for their responsibilities in the SANDF.

Motshekga said discipline would remain central as the recruits move into the next stage of their military careers.