Pressure continues to build on government to take stronger action against gang violence, with Fight Against Crime South Africa calling for the deployment of the South African National Defence Force SANDF to the country's worst-affected areas.
The organisation has stressed that any military deployment should form part of a joint operation with the South African Police Service SAPS, with soldiers reinforcing police capacity and boosting visibility in gang-ravaged communities. President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that the option of deploying the SANDF is under consideration, but has cautioned that such a move cannot be taken lightly, warning that soldiers are trained for combat and operate under different rules of engagement, including being trained to shoot to kill, according to eNCA.
Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Community Safety, JP Smith, has also weighed in on the debate, warning that a military presence alone would only offer temporary relief unless it is accompanied by effective policing and successful prosecutions. Speaking on CapeTalk , Smith responded to reports of a possible SANDF deployment, arguing that crime cannot be solved through force alone.
