Hundreds of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers are patrolling the streets of Riverlea, a suburb in southern Johannesburg, as part of a large-scale operation to tackle gang violence and crime. The deployment follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement in his State of the Nation Address that the military would be deployed to support the police in high-crime areas.
The operation, which started on March 11, 2026, involves 550 soldiers in Gauteng province, with plans to extend to five provinces, including the Western Cape and Eastern Cape. The SANDF will work alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) to conduct house-to-house searches, recover illegal firearms, and disrupt criminal networks.
Residents have mixed reactions, with some welcoming the military presence, hoping for a reduction in violence, while others express skepticism about the effectiveness of the deployment. The operation is expected to last until March 31, 2027, and is part of a broader effort to address South Africa's escalating crime crisis.
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