President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to the Western Cape and Gauteng in a renewed effort to combat escalating gang violence and illegal mining activities.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address before a joint sitting of Parliament in Cape Town, Ramaphosa said the intervention forms part of government’s intensified strategy to restore law and order in areas hardest hit by crime.
The President confirmed that members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the SANDF will work together, with instructions to urgently develop a comprehensive technical plan aimed at tackling gang-related crime and illicit mining operations in the two provinces.
Gang violence has long plagued communities in parts of the Western Cape, while illegal mining has become a growing concern in Gauteng, often linked to organised crime and dangerous working conditions.
Ramaphosa emphasised that stronger coordination between law enforcement and the defence force is necessary to stabilise affected communities and protect residents from criminal networks.
Further details regarding the scope and timeline of the deployment are expected once the joint operational plan has been finalised.
