Ramaphosa announces SANDF deployment in Gauteng and Western Cape

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Ramaphosa made the announcement during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered at Cape Town City Hall on 12 February.

He said the deployment was aimed at strengthening law enforcement operations in areas experiencing high levels of violent crime.

“To strengthen our fight against gang violence, I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police, as we did to great effect in addressing illegal mining,” said Ramaphosa.

“I have directed the Minister of Police and the SANDF to develop a tactical plan within the next few days on where our security forces should be deployed in the Western Cape and Gauteng to deal with gang violence and illegal mining.”

He said that he will inform the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces of the timing and location of the deployment of our soldiers, as well as the costs involved.

“We have to act to rid our country of gang violence.”

The President said the SANDF would play a supportive role, including assisting with securing high-risk areas, which would allow police to focus on investigations and arrests.

He added that the deployment would be reviewed regularly.

Earlier on Thursday, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia suggested that the security approach would soon become more visible, indicating that additional support measures were expected in the coming days.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Some welcomed the move as a necessary response to escalating violence, while others cautioned that military deployments may offer only short-term relief if not matched by improved policing capacity and stronger prosecution.

Critics have raised concerns that the underlying challenges in the criminal justice system, including low conviction rates and limited forensic and investigative resources, must be addressed to ensure lasting impact.