Ramaphosa Deploys Military to Combat South Africa Gang Violence

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans for increased security force deployment in South Africa during a parliamentary address. The deployment will initially focus on the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.

Military Deployment Plans

Ramaphosa directed the chiefs of the police and army to develop a plan for security force deployment within the coming days. The initial deployment will target the Western Cape province, which is experiencing gang violence, and Gauteng province, where illegal mining activities are prevalent. Ramaphosa stated that children in the Western Cape are affected by gang warfare and residents in Gauteng are displaced by illegal miners.

Illegal Mining and “Zama Zamas”

Authorities attribute the illegal mining activities to “zama zamas,” typically armed, undocumented foreign nationals involved in organized crime syndicates.

Change in Policy and Additional Measures

Ramaphosa previously declined a proposal to deploy troops to Cape Town, citing concerns that soldiers are not trained for community policing. He did not provide a reason for the policy shift. In addition to the military deployment, Ramaphosa announced plans to recruit 5,500 new police officers, enhance intelligence gathering, and focus on dismantling crime syndicates.

Organized Crime in South Africa

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised nation, has a history of struggling with organized crime. Police data indicates an average of 63 people were killed daily between April and September of the previous year.