President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has ordered the deployment of troops in Johannesburg as part of a government effort to support police in tackling organised crime, illegal mining and gang violence, according to Africanews.
Soldiers were seen on patrol on Wednesday in the suburb of Riverlea, marking the first visible stage of the operation announced by the president in his annual address to the nation last month.
The move reflects mounting concern in South Africa over criminal networks that authorities say are undermining both public safety and the country’s economic stability. In that speech, Ramaphosa described organised crime as the most serious threat to the country’s democracy and development, signalling that the government was prepared to rely on military support to reinforce civilian law enforcement.
Under the plan outlined in a formal notice sent to the Speaker of Parliament, around 550 soldiers are to be deployed initially in Gauteng, the country’s most populous province and home to Johannesburg. According to the president’s office, the first phase of the mission is expected to run until the end of April and will focus on assisting police in maintaining order and addressing criminal activity.
Officials from the South African Police Service and the South African Department of Defence did not immediately provide detailed operational information about how the soldiers would be integrated into policing efforts. However, documents submitted by police authorities to Parliament indicate that the deployment is intended to form part of a broader national operation extending beyond Gauteng.
The government plans to send security forces to five of the country’s nine provinces as part of the wider strategy. Efforts are expected to concentrate on illegal mining operations in Gauteng, North West and Free State, while military assistance will also target gang-related violence in Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Official statistics released by police recorded 6,351 homicides between October and December 2025 alone, averaging close to 70 killings every day in a nation of roughly 62 million people. Authorities argue that reinforcing police operations with military support could help stabilise some of the worst-affected areas while longer-term measures to address crime and illegal economic activity are developed.
