President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa will deploy the South African National Defence Force into Gauteng and the Western Cape to support police operations against illegal mining and gang violence.

The move signals an immediate escalation in enforcement capacity in the country’s two largest urban provinces, increasing the likelihood of raids, checkpoints, and area security operations that can disrupt local movement and commerce. Mining operators and logistics firms near closed/abandoned mine sites should plan for tighter access controls and higher security compliance demands as authorities target illegal extraction networks. The deployment also raises operational risk for businesses in affected communities as security activity intensifies, including potential temporary restrictions around hotspots.