President Cyril Ramaphosa has moved to assure the nation that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) within the country, was done with good reason.
The President addressed the nation through his weekly newsletter following the commemoration of Armed Forces Day at Limpopo on Saturday, 21 February 2026.
In the State of the Nation Address earlier this month, President Ramaphosa announced that the SANDF will be deployed to assist the police in combatting illegal mining and gang violence in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
“Given our history, where the apartheid state sent the army into townships to violently suppress opposition, it is important that we do not deploy the SANDF inside the country to deal with domestic threats without good reason.
“This recent deployment has become necessary due to a surge in violent organised crime that threatens the safety of our people and the authority of the state.
“That is why the SANDF will be deployed in support of the SAPS [South African Police Service], operating under police command, with clear rules of engagement and for specific time-limited objectives,” he assured.
During this mobilisation, the military may be called upon to “provide protection in high-risk operations, or to support cordon-and-search operations against armed criminals” and the deployment will be alongside other interventions.
“Soldiers may also help to secure critical infrastructure, freeing SAPS members to focus on investigations, arrests and building cases that lead to successful prosecutions.
“The deployment of the SANDF will take place alongside other measures, such as strengthening anti-gang units and illegal mining tasks teams. The police will also be working with the National Prosecuting Authority on multi-disciplinary task teams to target the leadership, finances, firearms and logistics of these criminal networks,” President Ramaphosa noted.
A helping hand
The SANDF has been called upon before in South Africa and members have taken part in not only maintaining security but also to support disaster response and development.
Amongst others, the SANDF was mobilised during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling government to “enforce disaster regulations, safeguard our borders, support anti-crime efforts with the SAPS and set up field hospitals to tend to the sick”.
“During the recent floods in parts of Limpopo and Mpumalanga, the SANDF supported relief efforts and assisted with evacuations, repairing damaged infrastructure and erecting temporary structures.
“Through Project Owethu, which was launched in Limpopo to coincide with Armed Forces Day, the SANDF provided healthcare services to more than 50,000 people in underserved communities.
“Over the last few years, the SANDF has helped improve the lives of rural communities through the Welisizwe Rural Bridges. It has conducted law-enforcement operations at our borders to curb people smuggling, illicit activity and illegal crossings,” he said.
The President acknowledged that the SANDF has been operating under financial strain.
However, as the public purse continues to strengthen, government is “working to close funding gaps and strengthen the readiness of our armed forces”.
“We are also strengthening the complement of younger people in the SANDF. Applications recently opened for the 2027 Military Skills Development System, which offers young people the opportunity to gain skills and training in the army, air force, navy and military health service.
“When the SANDF was formed in 1994 it marked a decisive break from the use of the defence force to perpetuate apartheid oppression. Today our armed forces are loyal to our democratic Constitution, are subject to civilian oversight and reflect the diversity of our nation. They operate in strict adherence with international humanitarian law.
“As we work together to overcome the challenges facing our armed forces, let us not lose sight of their immense contribution to building a democratic nation in which all our people are safe and secure,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
