South African leader defends army deployment in crime-hit areas

Pretoria wants to secure lasting stability and rid the country of crime, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said the deployment of the military is already helping restore stability in affected communities, but a permanent army presence will be costly.

Speaking in the National Assembly at the Nieuwmeester Dome, Ramaphosa said the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in five provinces is assisting police and has been welcomed by communities. He was responding to a question from Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) MP Nhlanhla Hadebe about the safety improvements he expects from the deployment.

Ramaphosa said the SANDF was being used as a “force multiplier” to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in addressing several crime challenges, including gangsterism in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng, as well as illicit mining in Gauteng and the North West Province. ”The SANDF deployment is necessary to complement the efforts of the SAPS in tackling these crimes and bringing stability to our communities,” Ramaphosa told MPs.

He said soldiers are operating under police command with clear rules of engagement and for specific, time-limited objectives. ”The army may be called on by the police to provide protection in high-risk areas or operations, or to support cordon-and-search operations and roadblocks against armed criminals,” Ramaphosa said.

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Soldier may also secure critical infrastructure, freeing police officers to focus on investigations. Ramaphosa rejected suggestions that the deployment indicates a failure by police. ”That is not the case. We are getting the police and the army to work together to handle the challenges our people are facing,” he said. He added that the deployment will take place alongside other measures, including strengthening anti-gang units and illegal mining task teams.

Police will also work with the National Prosecuting Authority in multidisciplinary operations aimed at targeting the leadership, finances and weapons networks linked to organised crime. ”Through this support, we aim to achieve a significant reduction in serious and violent crime in targeted areas, with the neutralisation of gang violence and illicit mining,” Ramaphosa said.

The deployment is being implemented gradually as the defence force moves into identified areas. Ramaphosa said the presence of soldiers has already been welcomed by residents. ”Where they become present, there is stability. We want to instil that stability and rid areas of criminality on a permanent basis,” he said.

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He added that the deployment is for a specific timeframe and may be extended if necessary. Ramaphosa said public perceptions of the military have changed over time. ”In the past, whenever soldiers were deployed it created fear because they were seen as trained only to shoot and kill. Now our defence force has developed capabilities to serve communities, build bridges, rescue people in danger and support the police,” he said.

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He also pointed to the military’s role during the 2021 South African unrest, when troops helped stabilise affected areas. During the State of the Nation Address 2026, Ramaphosa announced that the SANDF would be deployed to provinces with high crime rates, including Gauteng, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape. Earlier this week, soldiers working with SAPS officers conducted raids in Eldorado Park, Riverlea, Westbury and Sophiatown, searching for contraband, illegal weapons and other criminal activity.

A total of 550 SANDF members began their deployment in Gauteng on Wednesday as part of Operation Prosper, a joint operation with SAPS aimed at combating illegal mining and organised criminal networks. The deployment is expected to cost more than R80 million.

First published by IOL