Ramaphosa to deploy soldiers in WC, Gauteng to quell gang violence, illegal mining

President Cyril Ramaphosa said organised crime is the most immediate threat to the country’s democracy, society and economic development.

The army is now set to be deployed to gang-ridden areas of the Western Cape and Gauteng.

Ramaphosa made the announcement during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night.

He’s set the acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia to work to decide where the troops should be stationed.

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In the same way in which the army was used to quell illegal mining, Ramaphosa wants the defence force to assist with gangsterism.

He’s yet to inform Parliament of the number of troops to be deployed and what it will cost.

But he said crime is being felt in the loss of life, the sense of fear and the reluctance of businesses to invest.

“I have directed the Minister of Police and the SANDF [South African National Defence Force) to develop a tactical plan on where our security forces should be deployed within the next few days in the Western Cape and Gauteng, to deal with gang violence and illegal mining.”

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has welcomed the deployment, but said it’s only a short-term solution and the saps must still be reformed.