The South African government has initiated a pilot deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to combat organised crime in several provinces. The operation, which began on March 1, 2026, and will conclude on March 31, 2027, is part of a broader national strategy to dismantle organised criminal networks.
Key Takeaways
The South African government has begun deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to combat organised crime in several provinces. This deployment follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive during his State of the Nation Address, aiming to stabilise gang-ravaged communities and clamp down on illegal mining syndicates.
- SANDF deployment begins March 1, 2026, and will run until March 31, 2027
- Focus areas include Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, North West, and Free State
- MPs raise concerns about scope, conduct of SANDF members, and funding
- Defence Minister Angie Motshekga expresses confidence in the discipline of the SANDF
The deployment focuses on stabilising gang-ravaged communities in the Western Cape and clamping down on illegal mining syndicates in Gauteng. Additional areas include the Eastern Cape, North West, and Free State. The intervention was outlined during a briefing by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to parliament’s portfolio committee on police.
Committee chairperson Ian Cameron stated that the meeting followed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s pronouncements during his State of the Nation Address, where he described organised crime as an immediate threat to democracy, society, and economic development. Ramaphosa directed that intelligence structures be consolidated nationally, priority syndicates identified, and multidisciplinary intervention teams deployed.
MPs raised concerns about the scope of the deployment, the conduct of SANDF members, and funding. Leigh-Ann Mathys, an EFF MP, described the deployment as "a sad moment," stating that crime-fighting should primarily be the responsibility of SAPS. Another EFF MP, Elsabe Ntlangwini, questioned which specific areas in Cape Town would be covered.
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga expressed confidence in the discipline of the SANDF, asserting that soldiers will not terrorise the communities where they are deployed. She emphasised that it is standard practice for the defence force to undergo specific training for deployments of this nature.
Major-General Mark Hankel told the committee that the joint deployment will give SAPS space to function in those areas and address the objective of disrupting and dismantling criminal elements. The SANDF members will undergo mission-readiness training, including instruction on SAPS use-of-force protocols, escalation procedures, communication systems, rules of engagement, human rights compliance, and operational conduct.
National Police Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola stated that the deployment is in line with section 201(2)(a) of the constitution, which empowers the president to authorise the employment of the defence force in co-operation with SAPS. A total of R1 billion has been allocated for the implementation of the national organised crime plan, including the SANDF deployment.
The deployment is expected to serve as a force multiplier in high-risk areas, but its long-term success will hinge on sustained intelligence-led operations and the dismantling of the criminal syndicates at the heart of South Africa’s organised crime crisis.
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