South Africa to Deploy Army Alongside Police to Tackle Rising Crime

South Africa will deploy army units alongside police within 10 days to combat rising violent crime linked to drug gangs and illegal mining, according to acting police minister Firoz Cachalia. President Cyril Ramaphosa said troops will be sent to crime-hit provinces including the Western Cape, Gauteng, and later the Eastern Cape, warning that organised crime poses a serious threat to the country. The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures and security experts who question the effectiveness, cost, and suitability of using soldiers for policing duties.

Crime-weary South Africa is set to deploy army units alongside the police within the next 10 days as part of a renewed effort to confront escalating levels of violent crime driven largely by drug gangs and illegal mining activities. The announcement was made on Tuesday by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia, who said the decision reflects growing concern within government over the scale and persistence of criminal activity across several provinces.
The move represents the latest in a series of increasingly tough measures introduced by authorities to rein in crime in a country that continues to record one of the highest murder rates in the world. On average, around 60 people are killed each day, a statistic that has intensified public pressure on the government to take decisive action. According to Cachalia, army and police leadership have now finalised a comprehensive deployment plan, with joint operations expected to commence within 10 days.
The planned deployment was first announced last week by President Cyril Ramaphosa during a national address. He said troops would initially be sent to the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces, areas that have become focal points for violent crime and organised criminal networks. The Western Cape is home to the popular tourist destination Cape Town, while Gauteng includes the country’s financial and economic hub, Johannesburg.
In his address, Ramaphosa warned that organised crime poses a serious and immediate danger to South Africa’s democratic institutions, social stability, and long-term economic development. He pointed to the growing influence of criminal syndicates, particularly drug gangs and illegal mining groups, which have entrenched themselves in vulnerable communities and former mining regions.
Several areas of Cape Town have been plagued by deadly turf wars between rival drug gangs, resulting in frequent shootings and loss of life, often affecting innocent residents. At the same time, Gauteng’s former gold mining areas have seen a surge in illegal mining operations, commonly linked to armed criminal groups known for violence, extortion, and environmental damage. Cachalia added that the military operation would not be limited to these two provinces but would also be extended to the Eastern Cape, another region struggling with long-standing gang activity and drug-related crime.
Despite the government’s assurances, the decision to deploy the army has drawn criticism from sections of the public, opposition parties, and security analysts. Critics argue that soldiers are not trained for routine policing work and warn that the presence of the military on the streets could blur the line between law enforcement and defence operations. Others have raised concerns about the financial cost of the deployment at a time when public resources are already stretched.
There have also been accusations that calling in the army amounts to an admission that the police service has failed to effectively contain violent crime. During the parliamentary session attended by Ramaphosa, Mmusi Maimane, leader of the liberal Build One South Africa party, argued that the move would have little impact in the long term. He said deploying soldiers as a temporary measure would not address the root causes of violence or significantly reduce the estimated 64 murders that occur daily across the country.