Africa: Could Soldiers Provide Room for Real Gang and Organised Crime Violence Reductions?

AllAfrica

February 26, 2026

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South Africa's latest crime statistics reveal a mixed picture, with a slight drop in violent crimes reported since April 2024 but persistently high levels of violence linked to organized crime. While daily murders remain alarmingly high at 69 on average, the breakdown highlights varied sources of conflict, including gang-related killings and vigilante activities. Organized criminal networks are increasingly involved in extortion, robbery, drug trade, and illegal mining, contributing to a complex and evolving security challenge. President Cyril Ramaphosa has proposed deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in addressing gang violence and illegal mining. While such deployments can provide short-term stabilization by reinforcing police operations and expanding area control, experts caution that military involvement alone may not lead to sustained reductions in violence. Soldiers operate under different logics than police, focusing on defeating adversaries rather than preserving life or enforcing constitutional constraints. The structural mismatch between military and policing capabilities raises concerns about the effectiveness of such deployments. Soldiers are trained for combat, not for the nuanced investigative and community-focused approaches required for crime prevention. Additionally, unclear command structures and rules of engagement could heighten risks of excessive force, potentially undermining public trust and even empowering criminal groups. Historical incidents, including during COVID-19 lockdowns, have shown that military involvement in civilian contexts can lead to allegations of misconduct. The success of military support hinges on careful management to avoid operational and legitimacy risks. Effective crime reduction requires addressing the root causes of gangsterism and organized crime, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of access to social services. Without a balanced approach that combines enforcement with community

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Originally published on AllAfrica on 2/26/2026