The army will be deployed today in Nelson Mandela Bay as part of a major intervention to combat escalating gangsterism in affected communities.
On Wednesday, members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) arrived in Cape Town, marking the start of a broader multi-province deployment aimed at restoring law and order in gang-ridden areas.
Authorities have confirmed that SANDF operations will focus on key hotspots, including Nelson Mandela Bay and the Sarah Baartman District in the Eastern Cape, where violent crime, gang clashes, and drug-related activities have surged in recent months.
The deployment, which begins on 03 April 2026, is expected to run until 31 March 2027. Soldiers will work alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS), assisting with high-visibility patrols, roadblocks, and targeted operations to stabilise communities.
Government says the intervention comes amid growing concern over public safety, with residents in affected areas increasingly caught in the crossfire of gang violence and turf wars.
In Cape Town, where gang activity has long plagued parts of the metro, the arrival of SANDF troops is expected to reinforce existing crime-fighting efforts and provide additional support to overwhelmed law enforcement agencies.
Officials have stressed that the military will play a supporting role to SAPS, with a focus on crime prevention and maintaining stability rather than replacing routine policing functions.
While many residents have welcomed the deployment as a necessary step to curb violence, others have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of military involvement in civilian areas.
Government has called on communities to cooperate with authorities during the operation, emphasising that public participation will be key to restoring peace in the affected provinces.
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