South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the army to support police efforts against criminal gangs and illegal mining during his State of the Nation Address. This strategic move comes as gang violence remains a critical issue in the country, which has one of the world's highest murder rates.
In his speech, Ramaphosa declared, Organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society, and our economic development, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The military will initially focus on the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces, where gang violence and illegal mining are particularly severe. Ramaphosa emphasized the impact of these issues on the local populations, saying, Children here in the Western Cape are caught in the crossfire of gang wars. People are chased out of their homes by illegal miners in Gauteng. Authorities attribute much of this violence to illegal miners, often referred to as zama zamas, who are frequently armed and undocumented.
In addition to deploying military support, Ramaphosa mentioned plans to strengthen the police force by recruiting 5,500 new officers and bolstering intelligence operations to target crime syndicates. Despite the challenges, he remains committed to addressing the deep-rooted issues surrounding organized crime, which has plagued South Africa for years.
Last month, the Police Minister admitted that law enforcement agencies had yet to overcome the threats posed by these violent gangs, shedding light on the gravity of the crime crisis facing the nation. Data indicates that an average of 63 people were murdered daily between April and September last year, underscoring the desperate need for robust interventions.
