politics
March 15, 2026
South African leader defends army deployment in crime-hit areas
South Africa’s president has said Pretoria aims to permanently rid the country of crime with the help of the military
TL;DR
- President Ramaphosa affirms that the SANDF deployment is assisting police in restoring stability in affected communities.
- The military is being used as a 'force multiplier' to support the SAPS in tackling gangsterism and illicit mining.
- Soldiers operate under police command with clear rules of engagement for time-limited objectives.
- The deployment aims to achieve a significant reduction in serious and violent crime and instill permanent stability.
- A deployment of 550 SANDF members in Gauteng is part of 'Operation Prosper' and is expected to cost over R80 million.
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