Sema Fonkem 13 Feb 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that South African Defence Forces (SANDF) will join South African Police Service (SAPS) to fight against illegal mining and gang related crimes in the country.

Ramaphosa said during his 10th state of nation address yesterday, February 12, 2026 that he has advised military and police chiefs to draft a plan that will see security forces deployed to crime hot spots in the next few days.

“our security forces should be deployed within the next few days in the Western Cape and in Gauteng to deal with gang violence and illegal mining. Organised crime is now the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development. 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, I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police. The cost of crime is measured in lives that are lost and futures that are cut short. It is felt also in the sense of fear that permeates our society and in the reluctance of businesses to invest,” Ramaphosa said.

South Africa has about 6000 abandoned and closed mines. In 2024, authorities reported that approximately $3bn in gold was lost to illegal mining.

The deaths of at least 75 people caused by gun violence and gang related wars have been recorded in the past three months. This and other serious crime activities makes military intervention an urgency.

President Ramaphosa said an additional 5,500 police offers will be recruited to increase ground force and the intelligence required to identify places of high risk where crime syndicates operate.

The South African leader will inform parliament of the timing, location and cost of this operation for final approval.