CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa says the army has helped reduce crime where soldiers are deployed.
But he says the full impact of their presence will be felt later.
It was one of the many issues he was grilled on during his Q&A session in Parliament on Thursday.
Soldiers have been deployed to Gauteng, the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State and North West.
The deployment will run until the end of March 2027 at an estimated cost of R823-million.
Although not all parties agreed, Ramaphosa said the rollout of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to assist police has had significant progress in bringing stability to high-crime areas.
He said more funds will be allocated to the SANDF to enable them to recover their lost capacity to perform missions.
"Given the recent commencement of deployments in certain priority action areas, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions regarding impact. However, indicators suggest a reduction in selected crime categories within the operational action areas," Ramaphosa told MPs.
He said more than 1,000 arrests have been affected, most notably 550 in the Western Cape and 238 in the Eastern Cape.
Ramaphosa said:
"There has been a strong focus on dismantling drug networks and illegal mining syndicates, alongside arrests linked to serious violent crimes."
The President also faced questioned about the recent suspension of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Ramaphosa said Masemola consented to be suspended.
"As a result there was no need to engage the processes in sections 8 and 9 of the SAPS Act, which processes are aimed at obtaining a basis for a suspension that is contested. I considered the placement of General Masemola on precautionary suspension necessary to ensure the stability and effective functioning of the SAPS while the criminal process unfolded," he said.
On issues facing the economy, the President highlighted 6th South Africa Investment Conference, which was held in March and secured a total of R890-billion in investment commitments for the country.