The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) arrived in Eldorado Park in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the army would be deployed to support the police in strengthening the fight against illegal mining and gang violence.
READ: SONA 2026 | SANDF to support police in fight against illegal mining and gangs
He said the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces would be informed of the timing, location, and costs of the deployment.
READ: ‘Find the guns’ - community members cheered on as SANDF raided flats
Last year, Western Cape police reported over a thousand murders, with firearms accounting for 55 percent of the deaths. Police also recovered 880 illicit firearms during the same period.
Illegal mining, a long-standing issue, continues to threaten communities.
Residents near abandoned mines face environmental damage and constant safety risks from illegal miners, with some being forced to flee their homes after violent incidents.
READ: 'We are not safe': Mother urges SANDF to return to crime-hit Eldorado Park
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during the budget speech that money would be allocated to the fight through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA) fund.
Residents have welcomed the army's arrival, but confusion persisted on Thursday over the continuation of the operation.
In Parliament, while many said that the President had not gotten approval from them to deploy the army, Ramaphosa defended the deployment.
The deployment is for the period 1 March 2026 until 31 March 2027.
Also on Wednesday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) demarched United State of America ambassador to South Africa, Leo Brent Bozell III.
The move comes after remarks from Bozell during a BizNews Conference in Hermanus in the Western Cape on 10 March.
At the conference, the Ambassador criticised Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), calling on South Africa to return to 1995 before the policy came to effect.
He also remarked on the Expropriation Act, South Africa's relationship with Iran saying it undermined investor confidence. He also showed disregard for the country's judiciary.
DIRCO viewed these remarks as 'undiplomatic', necessitating the move to demarche.
Bozell has since backtracked his remarks and apologised. In an X post he sought to clarify that the US government respects the independence and findings of South Africa's judiciary.
This is not the first time DIRCO has had to demarche a US ambassador to South Africa. On 12 May 2023 ambassador Reuben E. Brigety was demarched by then Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor.
He alleged that a South African naval base in Simon's Town was being used to load weapons to a Russia cargo ship, Lady R, in December 2022.
READ: US Ambassador to SA demarched over 'undiplomatic remarks'
According to the Minister Pandor, Brigety admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly during the meeting. He, however, did not publicly retract his statement in the immediate aftermath.
North West businessman Suleiman Carrim's application to testify in camera before the Madlanga Commission was denied.
His legal team tried to convince the Commission that his life would be in danger if he testified in public.
Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga said Carrim could not make his own rules. He unsuccessfully approached the courts to block his subpoena.
He began his testimony on Monday and his lawyers argued that allegations against him were beyond the commission's mandate.
READ: Carrim's lawyer calls Madlanga Commission questioning a fishing expedition
Rafik Bhana said the Commission had made loose statements involving his client with Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, and businessman Hangwani Maumela's alleged involvement in tender frauds as well as possible proceeds of crime.
Despite this, the Commission flagged a network of transactions between Carrim, Matlala and Maumela.
READ: Madlanga Commission flags possible money laundering in Carrim, Matlala, Maumela dealings
Chief evidence leader, Advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC, said the evidence may call for money laundering charges.
Carrim denied receiving kickbacks from an irregular SAPS tender scored by suspected crime boss Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
READ: Carrim claims he was left in the dark over millions in SAPS-linked tender
Instead, he said he paid R10 million as an investment into Matlala’s company, Medicare24.
READ: Carrim accused of concealing payments to 'Cat' Matlala
He said Matlala delayed paying him back and later paid only R1.75-million in return to his company Tameez. He alleged Matlala used him and asked that he advance R750,000 to Maumela.
Carrim said he paid R500 000 to Maumela, who instructed him to make the payment to Luthaga Trading Enterprise.
Suspended organised crime head Richard Shibiri returned to the Mandlanga Commission for more testimony after it was discovered he received a 'loan' from Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala.
READ: Ramaphosa explains why Madlanga Commission interim report is not public
He denied any interest in Matlala’s R360 million SAPS contract and any advice he gave was simply as a police officer to a citizen.
On Thursday, his shopping spree after receiving the 'loan' came under scrutiny.
READ: Shibiri grilled over shopping spree after Matlala loan
Evidence shows that about a month after receiving the loan, Shibiri spent thousands on high-end sneakers and sandals, despite his supposed financial distress.
Bank records also show that, at the time, he and his son had more than R100,000 between them.
READ: Madlanga Commission welcomes deadline extension of it's term
Shibiri went ahead and borrowed money from Matlala to pay for car repairs that would have cost R55,000.
The seventh suspect linked to a string of insurance-related murders in Polokwane handed himself over to police on Thursday.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Rachel Kutumela’s other brother, Robbert Shokane, would appear in the Polokwane magistrate's court on Friday.
READ: UPDATE: Seventh suspect in R10m insurance fraud syndicate hands himself over
Six people were arrested in Polokwane on Tuesday in connection with an insurance fraud case involving former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela.
The alleged mastermind is Kutumela, who was arrested in October 2024 along with her sister and daughter. Her brother was arrested in October last year.
READ: SAPS warns: Insurance scams turning deadly 'for the love of money'
Suspects, including Kutumela’s husband, made a brief appearance in the Polokwane magistrate’s court following their arrest on Tuesday.
According to police investigations, some of the nine victims were burned, others strangled, and one was stabbed.
Police said they were also investigating additional murder charges linked to the fraud scheme.
Currently, the accused face 47 charges, including nine counts of murder.
The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced that registration for the upcoming local government elections will take place on 20 and 21 June.
Giving an update on the Commission’s readiness ahead of the elections, IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mambolo said the timing of the registration weekend aligns with the current planning assumption that the Commission must stand ready to administer elections whenever they are lawfully called.
Between November 2025 and March 2026, a total of 260,205 new online registrations have been recorded.
He said an early announcement of an election date was critical to allow South Africans to decide where they will be on voting day, as this determines where they register.
Mamabolo added that due to ward limitation and population movement, some voting district boundaries had been revised ahead of the elections.