President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered the South African National Defence Force to deploy in Western Cape and Gauteng to support police operations against criminal gangs and illegal mining, with a deployment plan due within days.

This shifts near-term security operations from police-only enforcement to joint police–military deployments, enabling higher manpower and capability for raids, area control, and protection of critical sites. Companies operating in Western Cape and Gauteng should expect tighter checkpoints, restricted access around hotspots, and more frequent enforcement actions that can disrupt logistics and site operations. The “within days” planning directive compresses lead time for local risk mitigation, including staff movement protocols and contractor screening in affected areas.