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Military deployed to crime hotspots across five provinces
South Africa has begun a year-long deployment of 2,200 soldiers to assist police in tackling violent crime, illicit mining, and gang activity in five provinces, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier this year. The operation, which officially launched on 1 April 2026, targets areas with alarmingly high murder rates, where an average of 71 people are killed daily, according to the latest crime statistics from October to December 2025.
Initial rollout in Gauteng sparks mixed reactions
The first contingent of troops arrived in March in three Johannesburg suburbs, including Eldorado Park, a neighborhood plagued by gang violence. Residents expressed divided opinions about the military's presence. While some acknowledged a temporary sense of safety, others doubted the long-term impact.
"Sodom and Gomorrah have nothing on this place. I stay indoors all day because I just don't want to be the next victim. Things are getting worse."
Leola Davies, 74, Eldorado Park resident
Elviena le Roux, a mother of three, argued that the military's presence could exacerbate violence, telling the BBC, "It will only make the violence worse." Ronald Rabie, 56, noted that while patrols create a safer environment for families, the effect is fleeting. "Once they leave, things return to chaos-they need to be here permanently," he said.
Critics question military's role in civilian policing
This is not the first time South Africa has turned to the military to curb crime. In 2023, over 3,000 soldiers were deployed for six months to combat illicit mining, and in July 2021, troops were sent to quell deadly riots following the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma. However, legal constraints limit soldiers' authority-they can only arrest civilians in rare circumstances and must transfer suspects to police immediately.
Security experts, including criminologist Guy Lamb, warn that the military is ill-equipped for community-based policing. "Soldiers are not designed to engage in policing but rather to engage in combat and use maximum force," Lamb told the BBC. He cautioned that troops could escalate tensions or respond aggressively in volatile situations, citing reports of excessive force during their COVID-19 enforcement deployments, which included unlawful detentions and harassment.
Historical distrust and calls for long-term solutions
The deployment also revives memories of the apartheid era, when the military was used to enforce oppressive rule. This legacy continues to influence public perception of soldiers patrolling civilian areas. Lamb emphasized that without addressing the root causes of crime-such as poverty and systemic inequality-violence is likely to resurge once troops withdraw.
"There's a strong likelihood [crime] will flare up again once the soldiers leave. This plan of addressing the root causes of crime in these areas is not in place."
Guy Lamb, Criminologist
Authorities remain optimistic that the military's presence will restore order, but critics argue that sustainable solutions require more than temporary deployments.
Scope and timeline of the operation
The second and largest cohort of troops will support operations in the Eastern Cape, Free State, North West, and Western Cape provinces for the next 12 months. The initiative follows mounting pressure on law enforcement, which has struggled to contain the country's escalating crime rates.
