South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the deployment of the army to tackle rising crime across the country.
According to international media reports, President Ramaphosa said organised crime poses the most immediate and serious threat to the nation. He stated that organised crime now stands as the greatest urgent danger to the country’s democracy, society and economic development.
The president stressed that the government’s foremost priority this year will be to intensify action against criminal groups through improved technology, strengthened intelligence and better co-ordination among law enforcement agencies.
He said the cost of crime is being paid in lost lives and shattered futures, and that this must now change. For this purpose, he directed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to assist the police.
Moreover, he instructed the Minister for Police and the defence force to prepare, within the coming days, an operational plan for the deployment of security personnel in Western Cape and Gauteng to address gang violence and illegal mining.
He said that an additional 5,500 police officers will be recruited this year, arms laws will be tightened, and intelligence and multi-agency teams will operate nationwide against criminal networks.
