By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 2,200 soldiers to assist the police in the fight against crime in the country’s five provinces.
Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the deployment serves to prevent and combat crime, and support and preserve law and order under Operation Prosper, which is targeting illegal mining and gangsterism.
The deployment is expected to cost about R823.15m ($49.7 million).
The deployed members of the South Africa National Defence Force (SANDF) will assist the police to prevent and combat illegal mining and gangsterism in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Western Cape, the presidency says.
The deployment lasts from March 1, 2026 until March 31, 2027.
The country’s constitution allows only the President to deploy troops to maintain peace. Section 201(2)(a) of South Africa’s constitution says: “Only the president, as head of the national executive, may authorise the employment of the defence force in co-operation with the police service.”
During a state of the nation address last month, Ramaphosa had announced the intention to deploy soldiers to areas afflicted by illegal mining and gang violence.
“President Ramaphosa calls on communities to welcome and work more closely with the South African Police Service and the SANDF to identify and alienate criminal elements and make neighbourhoods safer in the process,” said Magwenya.
According to Magwenya, soldiers who have been seen in some areas of Gauteng were there as part of a previous deployment to fight crime in that province which covered the period January 31 to April 30.
