The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to the Eastern Cape within the next ten days, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed on Thursday during the debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament.
This announcement expands President Cyril Ramaphosa’s initial plan, outlined in his SONA, to deploy troops to parts of the Western Cape and Gauteng to assist in tackling rampant gang violence and illegal mining activities.
Acting Minister Cachalia confirmed that logistical plans are being finalized to put boots on the ground imminently. “I confirmed that the national commissioner of the South African Police Service and the chief of our army met yesterday to finalize the deployment plan which will begin in the next 10 days,” Cachalia stated. “And by the direction of the president, I can confirm that the deployment will include the Eastern Cape.”
The president’s decision has drawn a mixed response in the National Assembly. While some MPs welcomed the intervention for communities terrorized by crime, others were sharply critical, arguing that deploying the military is an admission of the police’s failure.
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa defended the operation, stating that the department is ready to support the intervention. “The GNU [Government of National Unity] further recognizes that development cannot flourish without security,” Holomisa said. “We therefore welcome the deployment of the SANDF in support of SAPS in crime epicenters such as the Cape Flats, Western Cape in general, as well as Eastern Cape, and now the issues related to the mining.”
Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), used the debate to criticize the government’s handling of law enforcement. An EFF MP voiced strong opposition during the debate, stating, “Under your term, crime is out of control and your deployment of the army is the last resort. You are admitting that you have failed to fight crime. The people of heaven have been terrorized for too long by the so-called Zama Zamas, and on the deployment of the army, we have no choice but to support you because you have destroyed law enforcement capacity.”
Following the parliamentary debate, political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu provided insight into the proceedings and the broader implications of the deployment.
Professor Mngomezulu noted that the dynamics of the Government of National Unity had led to a noticeable decrease in criticism towards the president from parties that are now part of the executive. “This explains then why there was less criticism against the president than we have seen before. It is particularly because those who are on the opposite side are now a part of the government and therefore it’s very difficult for them to criticize the government that they are part of,” he explained.
However, Prof. Mngomezulu expressed agreement with the EFF’s concerns regarding the military deployment. He questioned the long-term strategy, pointing out that soldiers are not trained for traditional police work. “In principle, the president was right in deciding to deploy soldiers… the level of crime has reached the highest proportions and therefore needs to be contained. But let’s ask ourselves basic questions. The first question is what are soldiers trained for? Are they trained to do what they are now being deployed to do? The answer is an emphatic no,” Mngomezulu said.
He warned that without a sustainable long-term plan, the underlying issues would resurface once the soldiers are withdrawn. “If we deploy soldiers, it’s okay as a short-term solution, but what is our long-term solution? Those are the questions that we need to answer before we applaud the president.”
The analyst also touched on other key themes from the debate, including the critical need to strengthen local government and tackle corruption to ensure national stability and economic recovery ahead of the upcoming local government elections. He cautioned against any single party within the GNU claiming sole credit for economic progress, emphasizing that any achievements are the result of collective effort.