Over 2 000 troops to bolster policing in five provinces
South Africa's top police officer has declared that the government will not allow criminal networks to undermine the authority of the state, as the country embarks on one of its most significant security interventions in recent years.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed on Sunday that more than 2 000 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members will be deployed alongside police under Operation Prosper, a 13-month campaign targeting violent crime and organised criminal syndicates across the Free State, Gauteng, North West, Western Cape and Eastern Cape.
Masemola was speaking at the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) Coordination Centre in Pretoria, joined by SANDF Chief General Rudzani Maphwanya and NATJOINTS co-chairpersons Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili and Lieutenant-General Siphiwe Sangweni. The deployment was authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
"The purpose of this intervention is to provide space to the SA Police Service to deal with both street crime and to disrupt, disable and dismantle organised crime groupings through a coordinated operational framework where the SANDF and police will work together to stabilise crime-affected areas, and restore the rule of law in communities where criminal networks have sought to undermine the authority of the State."
The targeted provinces were selected following detailed intelligence assessments and crime analysis, which identified them as areas most severely impacted by criminal activity. Joint Operational Centres have been established to ensure seamless coordination between the military, police and other law enforcement bodies, with NATJOINTS overseeing intelligence-driven planning across all participating agencies.
Illegal mining and gang warfare in the crosshairs
Masemola outlined the interconnected nature of the criminal threats facing the country. In the Free State, Gauteng and North West, organised groups engaged in illicit mining continue to exploit both abandoned and operational mining infrastructure, generating illegal revenue streams and sparking violent turf wars between rival factions. Meanwhile, gang violence in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and parts of Gauteng has driven alarming rates of murder, extortion, drug trafficking and the spread of unlicensed firearms.
"These criminal dynamics are not isolated. They are interconnected and often linked to illegal migration, illicit firearms trafficking, corruption networks and attacks on essential infrastructure. The scale, sophistication and persistence of these criminal activities have resulted in this extraordinary and integrated response by government."
The Commissioner emphasised that the deployment's objectives are unambiguous: stabilising priority crime hotspots, dismantling organised criminal syndicates, restoring law and order, and reclaiming communities from the grip of criminal networks. South Africans can expect heightened security force visibility, intensified operations against illegal mining and gang activity, and stronger protection of critical infrastructure.
However, Masemola was careful to stress that the intervention extends beyond arrests and seizures. He said genuine success would be gauged by reduced violence, the disruption of criminal operations and the rebuilding of trust between communities and the state.
"Working together, we will dismantle criminal networks, reclaim our communities from violence and lawlessness, and restore the sense of safety and dignity that every South African deserves."
The Commissioner urged ordinary citizens to cooperate with security forces, describing public safety as a collective national responsibility that demands partnership between government and the people it serves.
The deployment of over 2 000 soldiers alongside police across five provinces signals a critical moment for South Africans living in communities plagued by violent crime, illegal mining and gang warfare. Businesses in affected areas may benefit from improved stability, while the mining sector could see reduced disruption from illicit operations. The 13-month timeline of Operation Prosper will test whether sustained military-police coordination can deliver lasting safety improvements or merely provide temporary relief.
