---
title: "Watch – ‘Private militias,’ murders, drugs: South Africa’s crime flashpoints"
description: "Different kinds of criminality, and even accusations that a drug cartel has infiltrated law enforcement, have ravaged South Africa in 2025. This means that honest police officers have had a rough year, from rooting out dodgy aspects of private security, to investigating countless killings. This has set the scene for 2026. Daily Maverick’s Caryn Dolley explains."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "VIDEO"
author: "Caryn Dolley"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/caryn-dolley-for-amabhungane/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-01-15-watch-private-militias-murders-drugs-south-africas-crime-flashpoints/"
published: "2026-01-15T20:59:03"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 38
---

# Watch – ‘Private militias,’ murders, drugs: South Africa’s crime flashpoints

> Different kinds of criminality, and even accusations that a drug cartel has infiltrated law enforcement, have ravaged South Africa in 2025. This means that honest police officers have had a rough year, from rooting out dodgy aspects of private security, to investigating countless killings. This has set the scene for 2026. Daily Maverick’s Caryn Dolley explains.

By Caryn Dolley · Published 15 January 2026, 22:59 SAST

## Content

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwVnTNf7AeQ)

Reporting by: Caryn Dolley
Edited by: Joel Seboa
Filmed by: Joel Seboa
Produced by: Emilie Gambade
Sub-edited by: Robyn Leary

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