South Africa Deploys Army to Tackle Crime in Key Provinces

South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized a year-long army deployment to support police in the country’s most violent areas. The move targets gang violence and illegal mining, two of the biggest threats to safety and economic stability.

• Soldiers deployed: 2,200

• Duration: March 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027 (13 months)

• Cost: $49.2 million

• Provinces covered: 5 out of 9, including Gauteng (Johannesburg) and Western Cape (Cape Town), plus North West, Free State, and Eastern Cape

Authorities estimate there are around 30,000 illegal miners working in abandoned mines, often armed and controlled by criminal syndicates. Gang violence contributes to hundreds of homicides each year, particularly around Cape Town.

Police will oversee the soldiers with four main goals:

1. Reduce crime in high-risk areas

2. Arrest offenders

3. Recover illegal firearms and explosives

4. Confiscate narcotics

Communities have largely welcomed the deployment, with residents in Johannesburg cheering soldiers on the streets. While South Africa has used the army in crime-fighting before, this is the longest recent deployment, following shorter operations in 2023 to combat hotspots and prevent civil unrest.

Source: Newstimehub