Africa: Should South Africa Use the Army to Fight Gangs? the Short Answer Is No
AllAfrica
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to combat gang violence in Gauteng and the Western Cape, as announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his 2026 State of the Nation Address, has been met with mixed reactions. While some see it as a desperate but necessary move due to the police force's failure to protect citizens from crime, others warn of significant risks. Research suggests that relying on the military for law enforcement creates a dangerous moral hazard, allowing the South African Police Service (SAPS) to evade reforms needed to address corruption, improve intelligence-gathering, and rebuild community trust.
The use of the army to stabilize hotspots provides only temporary relief, often followed by a surge in violence once troops withdraw. This pattern has been observed in other countries like Brazil and Mexico, where similar deployments have failed to deliver lasting solutions. Additionally, soldiers are trained for combat, not for the nuanced roles required in civilian law enforcement, such as negotiation or restraint. Their lack of tools like body cameras and non-lethal weapons further limits their effectiveness in urban environments.
The root causes of gang violence—unemployment, poor infrastructure, and inadequate education—remain unresolved, leaving communities vulnerable to cycles of crime and instability. While military interventions can temporarily reduce violence, they do not address the systemic issues that fuel gang activity. Over-reliance on the military risks remilitarizing society and undermining democratic governance.
The broader implications extend beyond South Africa. The trend of using domestic military forces for law enforcement raises concerns about democratic backsliding and human rights abuses. International studies highlight the dangers of militarizing internal security, urging countries to focus instead on strengthening police institutions and addressing root causes of crime.
Ultimately, the solution lies in reforming SAPS to make it more accountable and effective, rather than turning to the army as a quick fix. Until South Africa addresses its governance failures and invests in education, jobs, and infrastructure, temporary military deployments will only perpetuate cycles of violence and instability.
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Originally published on AllAfrica on 2/20/2026