PICS: Boots on the ground as SANDF deployed to tackle Cape Town gangs

The army is said to work in tandem with law enforcement on the ground.

A 12-month joint operation, which will bring together the army, SAPS, and other law enforcement agencies, was officially launched during a parade in Cape Town on Tuesday, 31 March 2026. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has officially deployed soldiers to Cape Town to assist SAPS in fighting crime.

This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address in February that the SANDF would be deployed to address South Africa’s evolving organised gang crisis.

A joint parade held by the army, police and City of Cape Town Metro Police in Belhar officially kicked off the deployment in the Western Cape.

[WATCH]

SANDF members have arrived in Cape Town to help fight gang violence, extortion, and other violent crimes plaguing most communities in the Cape Flats. A joint operational parade with SAPS and Law Enforcement is currently underway in Belhar @NtuthuzeloNene pic.twitter.com/NNy89QSwsV
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) March 31, 2026

🇿🇦SANDF arrives in the Western Cape to tackle gang-infested areas in the province, jointly with the SAPS and other State law institutions. pic.twitter.com/ec6vAj5LVu
— Inside Edge (@4Inside_Edge) March 31, 2026

Finally, soldiers are being deployed the Cape Flats… pic.twitter.com/vlg0UrsRQV
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) March 31, 2026

To listen to Primedia+ Digital Content Editor Barbara Friedman talk about this with CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford, use the audio player below:

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PICS: Boots on the ground as SANDF deployed to tackle Cape Town gangs

The army is said to work in tandem with law enforcement on the ground.

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