President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 550 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers to Gauteng to assist police in a targeted, three‑month operation to curb rampant illegal mining and other criminal activity across the province.
The deployment, named Operation Prosper, runs from 30 January to 30 April 2026 and will cost more than R80 million (about $4.9 million), the commander‑in‑chief of the SANDF said in a formal notification to the National Assembly.
Ramaphosa first announced the intervention during his State of the Nation Address last month and confirmed it in a letter to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on Monday.
The troops join SANDF personnel already deployed in other provinces, with soldiers sent earlier to the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and the Free State as part of wider efforts to support law enforcement.
Authorities say the Gauteng contingent will work alongside the South African Police Service on operations that target illegal mining syndicates – which have proliferated in recent years – as well as broader crime hotspots.
Officials have emphasised that the SANDF’s role is to support policing operations rather than replace police functions, while oversight mechanisms will govern conduct and coordination between defence and civilian law‑enforcement agencies.
Critics and civil‑society organisations have previously warned that deploying the military to assist police raises concerns about accountability, the appropriate use of force and the potential for rights violations.
Proponents argue that the scale and organisation of illegal mining operations – often linked to organised crime and violent conflict over access to resources — require enhanced resources and specialised operations that police alone have struggled to deliver.
Gauteng, South Africa’s economic hub, has seen increased activity in illegal mining, which authorities say fuels violence, environmental degradation and organized criminal networks.
The government has framed Operation Prosper as a response intended to dismantle criminal supply chains, protect communities and secure mineral resources while restoring public confidence in policing.
JN/APA