South African soldiers deploy in Johannesburg to tackle crime and gangs

First troops touch down nearly a month after President Ramaphosa said organised crime threatened country’s democracy.Published On 11 Mar 2026Soldiers have been deployed on the streets of South Africa’s biggest city nearly a month after the president announced the army would work alongside the police to tackle high levels of crime.President Cyril Ramaphosa said in his annual State of the Nation address on February 12 that organised crime was the “most immediate threat” to South Africa’s democracy and economic development.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘A dangerous thing’: S Africa’s gang-ridden townships fear army deploymentlist 2 of 3South Africa’s Ramaphosa says troops will deploy to tackle crime gangslist 3 of 3‘It’s segregation’: Row over S Africa’s multimillion-dollar crime wall planend of listOn Wednesday, troops touched down on the streets of Eldorado Park, a working class suburb in the country’s economic capital, Johannesburg, that has high levels of crime and gang violence.Local media published pictures of armoured vehicles rolling into the area, and the Independent Online reported that local councillor Juwairiya Kaldine welcomed their arrival.Soldiers were also seen in the Johannesburg suburb of Riverlea. Media reports said the soldiers were searching door-to-door.South Africa’s national police service and the Department of Defence, which oversees the military, did not immediately provide details on the deployment. But the president said last month that the army will help the police service fight gang violence and illegal mining.South African soldiers search a building during a patrol operation in Riverlea, near Johannesburg [AFP]Ramaphosa said in a notice to the speaker of parliament that 550 soldiers would be involved in an initial deployment in Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg, to help combat crime and preserve law and order.That deployment would last until the end of April, he said.