In an unprecedented move to address escalating security crises, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized military deployment to support police operations against organized criminal networks. During his annual State of the Nation address to Parliament on Thursday, Ramaphosa identified criminal syndicates as the most immediate threat to the nation’s democracy, emphasizing their detrimental impact on both economic stability and public safety.
The deployment will focus on Gauteng and Western Cape provinces—home to Johannesburg and Cape Town respectively—where communities face distinct security challenges. In Western Cape, gang warfare has reached alarming levels with children frequently caught in crossfire, while Gauteng residents suffer displacement by armed illegal miners operating in abandoned mining sites.
South Africa’s homicide statistics remain among the world’s highest, with approximately 63 daily killings recorded in 2025. Firearms, particularly illegal weapons, serve as the primary instrument in these violent crimes despite strict gun control regulations.
The illegal mining epidemic represents a particularly complex challenge, with authorities struggling to prevent armed groups from accessing the nation’s estimated 6,000 closed or abandoned mines. These miners, locally known as ‘zama zamas’ (Zulu for ‘hustlers’), are typically undocumented foreign nationals operating within sophisticated crime syndicates. The government estimates that illegal gold trading cost the economy over $3 billion in 2024 alone.
Ramaphosa outlined a strategic shift toward technology-driven intelligence gathering and coordinated law enforcement operations targeting criminal networks. The Minister of Police and South African National Defence Force have been tasked with developing immediate technical plans for security force deployment within coming days.