Ramaphosa Sanctions SANDF Deployment To Gang-Infested Cape Areas

Riyaz Patel

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to crime-riddled communities in Cape Town Friday, Police Minister Bheki Cele announced Thursday evening towards the end of his budget speech.

Cele said the latest killings, 13 people in 24 hours in Philippi, prompted a meeting with Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, and they agreed that action was needed.

Police minister Bheki Cele has announced that the SANDF will be part of the intervention to deal with gang ridden hotspots in the Western Cape. #NewzroomAfrika pic.twitter.com/iS8B6UzMgi
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) July 11, 2019

They then approached President Cyril Ramaphosa for “extra deployment” in the form of the SANDF and the president approved their request.

SANDF soldiers will join the police in a show of force in Cape Town’s gang infested areas, giving effect to government’s pledge that “extraordinary measures” will be taken to stamp out crime and murder, gang-related