Ramaphosa green-lights 13-month military deployment alongside police
More than 2,000 South African National Defence Force soldiers are fanning out across the country in a sweeping joint operation targeting organised crime syndicates, illegal mining networks and gang violence in some of the nation's most dangerous hotspots.
The massive security intervention, dubbed Operation Prosper, was formally unveiled at a joint media briefing by the national joint operational and intelligence structure in Pretoria on Sunday. Authorities confirmed that initial deployments are already under way, with combined military and police teams conducting targeted enforcement actions in several provinces.
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the green light for the operation following his state of the nation address, in which he directed government to escalate efforts against organised crime and deepen collaboration between security agencies. The deployment is authorised for a 13-month period and will see troops working shoulder-to-shoulder with the South African Police Service.
"The authority of the state will always prevail over criminality, intimidation and lawlessness."
Crime hotspots in five provinces under the spotlight
Gauteng, the Free State, the North West, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape have been identified as priority zones for the intervention. In Gauteng, the Free State and the North West, criminal syndicates have exploited both abandoned and operational mining infrastructure to run illegal mining operations — fuelling vast illicit money flows and deadly turf wars between rival gangs.
The Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Gauteng meanwhile remain gripped by gang violence that continues to drive alarming rates of murder, drug trafficking and extortion. Authorities described the current threat landscape as complex, encompassing illegal mining, gang warfare, narcotics distribution, extortion rackets and the proliferation of illegal firearms.
Joint operational teams will concentrate on heightened visibility patrols, precision-targeted raids and stabilisation measures in identified crime hotspots. The stated objective is to disrupt, paralyse and ultimately dismantle organised crime groups while giving police the operational breathing room to tackle criminal activity more effectively.
"This intervention is not just about law enforcement. It is about restoring stability, rebuilding trust between communities and law enforcement, and creating safer conditions for social and economic development."
Officials emphasised that the operation forms part of a broader national strategy to break the grip of crime networks on vulnerable communities and restore public confidence in the security apparatus. With boots already on the ground, authorities signalled that the full scope of the deployment would intensify in the weeks ahead.
