President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to gang violence hotspots as the government intensifies efforts to restore law and order in communities plagued by escalating crime.
The possible deployment comes amid a surge in gang-related shootings, extortion and drug trafficking, particularly in parts of the Western Cape and other urban areas where police resources are under severe strain.
Communities have repeatedly called for stronger state intervention as violence continues to claim innocent lives and disrupt daily life.
According to sources within government, the SANDF would be deployed in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS), focusing on stabilisation operations, patrols and protecting critical infrastructure, rather than replacing police functions.
Any deployment would be in line with constitutional provisions allowing the army to assist in maintaining internal security.
The Presidency has emphasised that long-term solutions to gang violence require more than just security interventions, pointing to the need for social development, job creation and the dismantling of organised crime networks.+read more
No final decision has yet been announced, but consultations with security clusters and provincial authorities are understood to be ongoing as government weighs its options to curb the violence.
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
