South Africa’s Ramaphosa says troops will deploy to tackle crime gangs

Al JazeeraEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al JazeeraFebruary 13, 2026 at 04:14 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on February 13, 2026, that he will deploy the military to support police in combating high levels of crime. The deployment aims to address gang violence in the Western Cape and illegal mining in Gauteng province. This decision comes in response to rising homicide rates and the threat organized crime poses to South Africa's democracy and economy. The government also plans to recruit more police officers, improve intelligence gathering, and target priority crime syndicates. The goal is to reduce crime's impact on lives, businesses, and the overall sense of security in the country.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Israel 30% Iran 30% African Union 30% Johannesburg 40% Cape Town 50% Gauteng ×260% Western Cape ×260% South African National Defence Force 70% Cyril Ramaphosa ×490% South Africa ×8100%

Keywords

crime 100% gang violence 90% military deployment 80% south africa 70% police force 70% organised crime 60% illegal mining 60% western cape 50% gauteng 50% security forces 50%