WATCH | ‘Military will be a force multiplier for police’ – Winde

Ramaphosa

Cape Town – Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to gang-affected areas in the province, a move also extended to Gauteng.

The deployment, announced during the 2026 State of the Nation Address, aims to support police in tackling gun violence and organised crime.

“Organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development,” Ramaphosa said in his annual state of the nation address on Thursday.

“I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police,” he told both houses of parliament.

Winde said the intervention offers short-term relief but stressed that long-term strengthening of policing capacity is still essential.

“So the president has just delivered his State of the Nation Address. I, first of all, must welcome the focus on fighting crime. We welcome the deployment of the military to add as a force multiplier to support the police, specifically in the gang hotspots, here in the Western Cape and in Gauteng,” he said.

Deputy Minister of Defence Bantu Holomisa also praised the deployment, describing it as a necessary response to a deteriorating security situation that has left the public increasingly concerned.

Holomisa said the president acted after the security cluster highlighted rising crime last year and emphasised that the army’s role is to assist police, not take over law enforcement.

Holomisa warned the public to cooperate with soldiers, noting: “It’s not a war. It’s just to assist the police… We are prioritising the security of South Africans.”

The decision comes as South Africa faces a high murder rate of around 60 deaths per day, with gang-related killings in Cape Town and mass shootings linked to illegal mining in Gauteng.

Authorities have called for urgent action to restore safety in these high-risk areas.

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