South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the military to combat criminal gangs and illegal mining, addressing the need for urgent intervention as the country grapples with one of the highest murder rates in the world.
In his annual State of the Nation Address (Sona), Ramaphosa highlighted that organized crime poses a dire risk to national democracy, society, and economic progress. I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police, he stated.
The military deployment will prioritize the provinces of Western Cape and Gauteng, areas severely impacted by gang violence and illegal mining activities, respectively. Ramaphosa emphasized the harsh realities faced by communities, mentioning how children are caught in the crossfire of gang wars and how innocent people are displaced by illegal miners.
According to police minister Firoz Cachalia, the police are currently not equipped to finally eliminate the well-entrenched criminal gangs, confirming the necessity of military backup in controlling the crime crisis.
In addition to troop deployment, the president announced initiatives to recruit an additional 5,500 police officers, enhance intelligence capabilities, and dismantle crime syndicates.
South Africa has been continuously plagued by organized crime, and recent statistics show that an average of 63 homicides occur daily, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
