Masemola: SANDF deployment will stabilise crime through intelligence, analysis
South Africa has deployed 2,000 SANDF troops alongside police in five provinces to target street crime, gang violence, and organised crime, aiming to restore community safety, disrupt criminal networks, and support law enforcement efforts.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola says that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force alongside the South African Police Service will target hotspot areas identified through intelligence and crime analysis.
Speaking at a joint media briefing with the SANDF on Sunday, Masemola explained that the 2,000 troops deployed in five provinces over the next 13 months will focus on street crime.
The specialised units will tackle complex organised crime networks.
Soldiers moved into gang-violence hotspots in Johannesburg on Wednesday to support police efforts to tackle rampant crime, described by President Cyril Ramaphosa as one of the biggest threats facing South Africa.
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The military deployment will last a year and cover five of the nine provinces, including Gauteng and the Western Cape.
The measure has drawn criticism from experts and opposition politicians who say troops lack the skills for policing.
"We might have seen in Gauteng, there have been deployments, there have been some 10 people arrested, a lot of confiscations of illegal mining equipment have been done with joint operational teams already working together on targeted enforcement and operations and area stabilisation activities," Masemola said on Sunday.
He added that the initiative is not solely about enforcement, but also aims to restore stability, rebuild trust between communities and law enforcement, and create safer conditions for social and economic development.
Success, Masemola said, will be measured not only by arrests and confiscations but also by reductions in violence, disruption of criminal networks, and restored community confidence.
Meanwhile, the South African National Defence Force says it has issued strategic guidelines and rules of engagement to all commanders and deployed troops.
SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanya says they will enforce the law of order by any means possible.
“We are not going to tolerate any further escalation of any criminal activity that will take our people's lives. We'll give those criminal elements no quarter.
“We will go out there and ensure that our people are protected. We're not going to allow those who do not have the right to carry arms to terrorise our people.”
