Crime-weary South Africa will deploy army units to support police within the next 10 days as part of a renewed crackdown on rampant criminal activity fuelled by drug gangs and illegal mining operations, authorities have announced.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia told parliament on Tuesday that army and police chiefs have finalised “the deployment plan which will begin in the next 10 days.” The move forms part of a broader government effort to contain spiralling violence in a country that records one of the highest murder rates globally, averaging about 60 killings a day.
President Cyril Ramaphosa first announced the deployment during a national address last week, warning that “organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development.” Troops are expected to be sent to the Western Cape — home to tourist hub Cape Town — and Gauteng, which includes the financial centre Johannesburg.
Authorities say parts of Cape Town are gripped by deadly turf wars between rival drug gangs, while illegal miners continue to operate in the former gold fields of Gauteng. Cachalia added that the military operation would also be extended to the Eastern Cape, another province battling entrenched gang activity and drug-related crime.
The decision has sparked debate among security experts and opposition parties, some of whom argue that soldiers are not trained for policing duties. Critics have also questioned the cost of the deployment and described it as an implicit admission that police have struggled to curb violent crime.
Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Build One South Africa party, criticised the plan in parliament, saying sending in the army as a short-term measure “will not reduce the 64 murders that take place every single day in this country.”
The deployment marks one of the most significant security interventions in recent years as the government seeks to restore order and public confidence amid mounting concerns over safety and stability.
Melissa Enoch
