The deployment follows an announcement made last month by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who said the military would assist the police in fighting organised crime.
Troops were seen patrolling the suburb of Riverlea in Johannesburg. It is the first major deployment since Ramaphosa warned during his annual address to the nation that organised crime poses a serious threat to South Africa’s democracy and economic growth.
Authorities have not released full details of the operation. However, Ramaphosa informed Parliament that about 550 soldiers would initially be deployed in Gauteng Province, which includes Johannesburg, to support police and maintain law and order. The operation is expected to run until the end of April.
The government is also planning a larger security operation across five of the country’s nine provinces. According to information presented to Parliament, the plan will target illegal mining in Gauteng, North West, and Free State provinces, while efforts to curb gang violence will focus on the Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Police officials say some parts of the operation could continue for more than a year.
South Africa continues to struggle with high levels of violent crime. Police recorded 6,351 murder cases between October and December 2025. That figure represents an average of nearly 70 killings each day in a country with a population of about 62 million people.
