President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng in a move aimed at protecting public safety and curbing organised crime.
Speaking at the Presidential Golf Challenge in Cape Town, held annually after the State of the Nation Address (SONA), Ramaphosa said the deployment is intended to assist the police in addressing gang violence and illegal mining activities.
He warned that soldiers are not police officers, emphasizing that they are “trained to kill” and will act to defend the peace. “They’ve performed extremely well whenever deployed alongside the police. Their role is to protect communities and restore order,” he said.
Ramaphosa confirmed that he had instructed the acting Minister of Police and the SANDF to develop a tactical plan to determine precise deployment locations over the coming days. The plan will also include the projected costs before being submitted to Parliament.
The President defended the measure, noting that similar deployments in the past have proven effective. He stressed that the SANDF will support, not replace, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in maintaining law and order.
The announcement comes amid growing concerns over escalating gang-related violence in areas such as the Cape Flats and violent syndicates involved in illegal mining in Gauteng.
While some provincial leaders have welcomed the move as necessary to protect communities, experts and civil society organisations caution that relying on the military for internal policing carries risks and must be accompanied by broader crime-prevention strategies, including justice reforms and community engagement.