Ramaphosa Deploys 2,200 Troops to Combat Mining, Gang Crimes

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the deployment of 2,200 members of the South African National Defence Force to support the South African Police Service in combating illegal mining and gangsterism across five provinces, with soldiers arriving in crime hotspots in Gauteng this week.

The operation, named Operation Prosper, began on March 1, 2026, and is set to continue until March 31, 2027. It targets criminal activities in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West, and Western Cape. The Presidency confirmed the decision on March 13, 2026, stating that the deployment complies with Section 201 of the Constitution, which allows the president to authorize military assistance to police efforts. The estimated cost of the operation is R823,153,960.

Troops have already taken positions in areas such as Riverlea, Rietvallei, Westbury, and Eldorado Park in Johannesburg, where residents have long faced violence from illegal miners, known locally as zama zamas, and gang-related incidents. In Rietvallei, west of Johannesburg, community members expressed relief at the presence of soldiers, citing daily threats including gunfire and bodies found in the streets. One resident noted...