Caution as army enters war against Cape gangs

CRIME experts, community activists and organisations have cautiously welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's deployment of the army to crime ravaged communities in the Western Cape.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation Address, delivered a stark reflection on South Africa's crime crisis, describing it as one of the most pressing threats to social stability and democratic progress.

He emphasised that the consequences of crime extend far beyond statistics, saying the cost is measured in lives lost and futures cut short. Ramaphosa highlighted the deep emotional and psychological toll of crime, noting that fear has become a daily reality for many South Africans. “The cost of crime is not just in numbers, it is in lives cut short, dreams destroyed, and the fear that paralyses our communities,” he said.

Ramaphosa warned that organised crime now represents the most immediate threat to South Africa's democracy. He said criminal syndicates have grown more sophisticated, infiltrating communities and exploiting social vulnerabilities.

Government, he said, would intensify its focus on dismantling these networks through improved intelligence gathering, increased use of technology, and coordinated law enforcement strategies.

“Organised crime is no longer a peripheral problem it is an urgent threat that affects every South African,” he said.

Central to the government's plan is the deployment of the SANDF to support the South African Police Service in high-risk areas. Ramaphosa confirmed that he has instructed the Ministers of Police and Defence to develop a detailed technical plan identifying priority deployment zones in the Western Cape and Gauteng.

The deployment is expected to begin within days, with security forces tasked with stabilising violence-ridden areas and strengthening policing operations.