SANDF Will Deploy Army To Cape Town To Target Gang Violence And Crime Hotspots in Western Cape

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is set to be deployed in parts of the Western Cape within days, as authorities intensify efforts to curb gang-related crime.

Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile confirmed that troops will be sent to identified hotspots following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address.

The deployment forms part of a coordinated strategy between the SANDF and the South African Police Service (SAPS) aimed at stabilising gang-affected communities, particularly in Cape Town.

Cape Town Crime Hotspots: Focus on Cape Flats and Gang-Ridden Areas

Patekile said the majority of violent crime in the province is concentrated in Cape Town, with the city accounting for the bulk of reported incidents.

“Cape town is generating 80 to 85 percent of our crime in the western cape. So, we are going to be focusing on the city, particularly the Cape Flats,” said Patekile.

Authorities will prioritise neighbourhoods where gang activity, extortion rackets and taxi-related violence are widespread. According to Patekile, the joint operation will have a clearly defined mandate.

“We are talking about the gang areas and the areas where extortion and taxi violence is rife. So, if focus on those areas and reduce the murders there then the city of cape town will be safer,” said Patekile.

SANDF and SAPS Joint Operation to Tackle Gang Violence in Western Cape

The commissioner stressed that while Cape Town will receive primary attention, law enforcement will not overlook other parts of the province impacted by gang activity.

The integrated deployment is expected to strengthen visible policing and reinforce efforts to reduce murders in some of the province’s most troubled communities.

The move signals a renewed push by national and provincial authorities to restore stability in areas long plagued by organised crime and violent turf wars.