Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the deployment of 2,200 soldiers to help police fight serious crime in several parts of South Africa. The army will stay on the streets for 13 months, from March 2026 until March 2027, in an effort to make communities safer.
The soldiers will work in five provinces, including Johannesburg’s province of Gauteng and the Western Cape, where Cape Town is located. These areas have been heavily affected by gang violence and illegal mining, which authorities say are major threats to security and the economy.
Illegal mining is a serious problem, with about 30,000 illegal miners believed to be operating in thousands of abandoned mines across the country. Many of these groups are linked to criminal networks and are often armed.
The operation will cost about $49.2 million, but many communities support the decision. Residents in Johannesburg even cheered when soldiers arrived, showing how worried people are about crime.
Police will lead the operation and have four main goals: reduce crime in high-risk areas, arrest criminals, seize illegal weapons and explosives, and confiscate drugs. This is not the first time the country has used the army to help fight crime, but it is one of the longest deployments in recent years.
Source: TRT Africa
