President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to targeted areas in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces as government moves to confront spiralling violent crime, including gang warfare and illegal mining.
Announcing the decision during his State of the Nation Address in Cape Town on Thursday night, Ramaphosa said organised crime had become “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development.”
“We cannot fight organised criminals by treading softly. We must act with zero tolerance and bring the full force of the law to bear,” he said.
The deployment comes amid persistent gang violence in the Western Cape where communities have long been caught between rival groups involved in drug trafficking, extortion and contract killings.
In Gauteng, illegal mining syndicates – commonly known as zama zamas – have entrenched themselves in abandoned shafts, fuelling turf wars, environmental damage and violent clashes with police.
Ramaphosa said the SANDF would support the South African Police Service in stabilising high‑risk areas, dismantling syndicates and restoring public safety.
The intervention forms part of a broader national strategy to consolidate intelligence, target priority criminal groups and strengthen law‑enforcement coordination.
Ramaphosa also announced a new criminal‑justice reform initiative in the Presidency to fast‑track systemic improvements, alongside forthcoming whistle‑blower protections and procurement reforms aimed at closing corruption loopholes.
JN/APA