In Conversation With Tebogo Mashilompane- The Forum for South Africa (FOSA)

The Forum for South Africa (FOSA) has issued a strongly worded warning accusing government of allowing lawlessness, organised crime, and insecurity to spiral out of control across the country. In a media statement released on 26 May 2026, the organisation claimed communities are increasingly living under fear as criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, kidnapping, hijacked buildings, and organised crime continue operating with what it describes as “growing confidence and little consequence.” FOSA argues that South Africa is experiencing not isolated criminal incidents, but what it calls a broader “systemic collapse” fuelled by weak law enforcement, ineffective border control systems, poor intelligence coordination, and failures in governance. The statement reflects growing public frustration around violent crime and urban insecurity, particularly in major cities where communities continue raising concerns about hijacked buildings, illegal firearms, kidnappings, extortion syndicates, and criminal networks operating openly in some areas. FOSA also criticised what it describes as the silencing of citizens who raise concerns around crime and illegal activity, arguing that communities are too quickly labelled xenophobic when demanding stronger law enforcement and immigration controls. At the same time, the organisation insisted that the fight against crime must remain within the rule of law and target criminals rather than innocent individuals or communities. The statement comes amid increasing national debate around policing failures, border security, corruption within law enforcement agencies, and the state’s ability to effectively combat organised crime networks operating across provinces. Instagram · Twitter