Africa-Press. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said that deploying the National Defence Force to gang violence hotspots remains an option, but stressed that such a step must be carefully assessed since soldiers are trained to “shoot to kill” rather than perform policing duties.
Speaking after a meeting of the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee, Ramaphosa explained that the army does not investigate crimes like the police do, but treats suspects as enemies — a serious concern in civilian environments. He emphasized that any potential army deployment must complement the police, not replace them.
Ramaphosa stressed the need to strengthen criminal intelligence and improve coordination between the police and other security agencies to effectively target gangs, adding that South Africa has “a multidisciplinary mix of forces” through which the army can support police operations.
Escalating crisis in the Cape Flats
The president noted that gang violence has become a major national concern, citing recent deadly incidents in the Cape Flats area, including a mass shooting that left 8 people dead and 10 injured. According to parliamentary figures, the Cape Flats recorded about 58 gang-related murders and 60 attempted murders between late December 2025 and mid-January 2026, reflecting the scale of the crisis facing authorities.
