CAPE TOWN - The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support police in strengthening the fight against illegal mining and gang violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Cape Town City Hall on Thursday evening.
Ramaphosa said the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces will be informed of the timing, location, and costs of the deployment.
Addressing approximately 490 members of Parliament, including representatives of local government, the President expressed concern over persistent crime linked to illegal mining and gun violence.
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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 forced to flee their homes after violent incidents.
Ramaphosa said this must end, as crime results in lives lost, futures cut short, and a climate of fear that deters businesses from investing.
He warned that organised crime has become “the most immediate threat to South Africa’s democracy, society and economic development.”
The President said the government’s primary focus this year will be stepping up the fight against organised crime and criminal syndicates.
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Authorities will consolidate intelligence nationally, identify priority syndicates, and deploy hand-picked multidisciplinary intervention teams aimed at dismantling criminal networks.
He added that technology, intelligence, and integrated law enforcement will be central to taking down organised crime.