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By Newz.Africa Desk |Cape Town, South Africa | 12 February 2026 | SANDF tackle gang violence
President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the South African National Defence Force will be deployed to support police in tackling gang violence. The announcement was made during the State of the Nation Address, with the Western Cape and Gauteng identified as priority areas.
BREAKING NEWS | President Cyril Ramaphosa says the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support police in dealing with gang violence and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng, among other provinces. pic.twitter.com/0bgtnRl2nh
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 12, 2026
The statement triggered immediate reaction online, with many South Africans questioning whether military deployment can succeed where policing has struggled for years.
SANDF deployment to tackle gang violence and illegal mining
Ramaphosa said he has instructed the Minister of Police and the SANDF to urgently develop a technical deployment plan.
“I will deploy the SANDF to support our police in tackling gang violence and illegal mining,” the president said.
He added that the plan would identify where security forces should be deployed within the next few days.
Government has increasingly framed illegal mining as a national security threat, citing links to organised crime, violence, and economic losses.
Gang violence remains a persistent concern in parts of the Western Cape, particularly in communities experiencing high levels of firearm‑related crime.
Public reaction questions policing capacity
Public reaction following the announcement reflected a mix of relief and scepticism.
Some users welcomed the move, arguing that communities affected by gang violence have waited too long for decisive action.
Others questioned why the SANDF is being used to supplement policing, pointing to long‑standing capacity and leadership challenges within the South African Police Service.
Several commentators asked how long the deployment would last and whether similar interventions in the past had delivered lasting safety improvements.
Military support seen as high‑stakes intervention
The SANDF has previously been deployed domestically during periods of unrest and heightened security risk.
Supporters of the move argue that the scale of gang violence and illegal mining now requires extraordinary intervention. Critics counter that military deployments cannot replace effective policing, intelligence‑led investigations, and community‑based crime prevention.
Government has not yet provided details on troop numbers, deployment duration, or operational authority. Further information is expected once the technical plan has been finalised.
Original reporting
This report is based on live remarks made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address.
Public reaction was assessed through real‑time monitoring of social media commentary during and immediately after the address.
Primary artefact
Direct quote from SONA:
“I will deploy the SANDF to support our police in tackling gang violence and illegal mining.”
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