Cape town: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers to the province to support police in the fight against criminality, especially illegal mining. The intervention was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Cape Town on Thursday evening.

According to South African Government News Agency, illegal mining has become a serious criminal enterprise that threatens the safety of communities, exploits vulnerable people, and causes extensive environmental damage. The deployment of soldiers to assist the police demonstrates the government’s commitment to restoring law and order and protecting communities, Lesufi stated in a statement on Friday.

The scourge of illegal mining has cost the South African economy billions of Rands in lost economic revenue and, in some areas, contributed to escalating violence. Last week, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety noted an incident in which an alleged zama-zama (illegal miner) was shot and wounded during night-time gunfire in Bekkersdal. The committee added that the presence of illegal miners has also contributed to a surge in kidnappings in the area.

Lesufi emphasized that the people of Gauteng deserve to live in safe communities free from criminality and committed to working with the national government to eradicate illegal mining and its associated crimes. In the SONA, President Ramaphosa announced the deployment of the SANDF to support police in Gauteng and the Western Cape to deal with gang violence and illegal mining.

The President directed the Minister of Police and the SANDF to develop a tactical plan for the deployment of security forces within the next few days in the Western Cape and Gauteng to address these issues.