South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday authorised the deployment of 2,200 members of the national defence force to help combat crime.

• Ramaphosa said the deployment serves to prevent and combat crime, and to support and preserve law and order by targeting illegal mining and gangsterism.
• The ​deployed members of ​the national defence force will assist ‌the ⁠South African Police Service in five provinces: the Eastern Cape, Free State, ​Gauteng, ​North ⁠West and Western Cape.
• Expenditure for this employment ​is estimated at ​823 ⁠million rand ($49 million).
• The deployment is from March 1, 2026, until March 31, 2027.