South Africa to Deploy Army in High — Crime Areas Amidst Gang and Illegal Mining Concerns. Johannesburg, South Africa — President Cyril Ramaphosa announced plans to deploy the army in high-crime areas across three of South Africa’s nine provinces, aiming to combat organized crime and gang violence.
The initiative, which includes tackling illegal mining activities, comes as a response to what Ramaphosa termed the “most immediate threat “to the nation’s democracy and economic development.
The deployment is set to occur in the Western Cape province, where the city of Cape Town, the nation’s second-largest metropolis and a key tourist destination, is located. Cape Town’s outskirts, known as the Cape Flats, have long been notorious for deadly gang violence.
The areas are home to street gangs such as the Americans, the Hard Livings, and the Terrible Josters, which have been involved in the illegal drug trade, extortion, and contract killings.
Officials commented on the matter.
The army will also be deployed in Gauteng, home to Johannesburg, and the Eastern Cape province. Gauteng has been dealing with illegal gold mining activities in the region’s outskirts and abandoned mine shafts.
The “zama zamas, “as these illegal miners are known, are typically associated with heavily armed crime syndicates. Ramaphosa’s announcement comes after a series of high-profile incidents involving illegal mining, including a case in 2022 where 80 alleged illegal miners were accused of gang raping eight women during a music video shoot at an abandoned mine.
The situation escalated last year when a standoff between police and illegal miners at an abandoned mine resulted in the deaths of at least 87 miners.
The South African government estimates that there are approximately 30,000 illegal miners operating in the country, extracting gold worth over $4 billion annually, much of which is lost to criminal syndicates.
The trade is predominantly controlled by migrants from neighboring countries, fueling resentment among local communities. Critics argue that the army deployment could be seen as an admission that the government is losing control.
Nevertheless, many residents in the affected areas are hopeful that the intervention will bring a reduction in crime and restore a sense of security.
The government has not yet provided a timeline for the deployment, but it is expected to occur in the coming weeks. Further details are expected to be announced in the coming days.
