Also known as: SANDF
South African National Defence Force — deployed to combat gang violence, illegal mining, and support policing operations as of 2026.
Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.
The Namibian
SANDF gathered at the Nelson Mandela Bay SAPS 10111 Centre for briefing in preparation for protests against illegal immigrants
“Members of the SAPS and SANDF gathered at the Nelson Mandela Bay SAPS 10111 Centre on Thursday morning for a briefing in preparation for protests against illegal immigrants anticipated around the country.”
Eastern Cape deploys SAPS, SANDF to potential hotspots ahead of Tuesday’s nationwide immigration protestsThe Namibian
South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed about 2,200 troops to combat crime across South Africa on Wednesday
“Maluleke's 2024-25 audit findings come ahead of the deployment of about 2,200 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops to communities across South Africa on Wednesday, and raise questions about how resources can be adequately managed when the department is unable to fully account for what it owns.”
AG finds SANDF can’t keep track of military assets as R823m troop deployment beginsThe Namibian
The SANDF is in freefall to obsolescence
“The South African military is rotting from the outside in, and this incoming operation is a terrible reminder that necrosis is very much set in.”
Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy the SANDF is deeply flawed. Here’s whyThe Namibian
South African National Defence Force to be deployed to support the police against criminal gangs
“"I will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to support the police," he added.”
South Africa to deploy army to tackle crime gangsThe Namibian
SANDF billed the exercise as joint exercise of BRICS+ forum
“The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has billed it as a joint exercise of the BRICS+ forum of 10 countries.”
Iran pulls out of SA’s joint naval exercise amid political tensionsLaw enforcement in South Africa's Eastern Cape will deploy additional resources to identified hotspots ahead of nationwide anti-immigration protests planned for 30 June, adopting a zero-tolerance approach to any violence.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Law enforcement in South Africa's Eastern Cape will deploy additional resources to identified hotspots ahead of nationwide anti-immigration protests planned for 30 June, adopting a zero-tolerance approach to any violence.
26 June 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's acting police minister Firoz Cachalia announced a special operation costing more than R600m to counter anti-immigrant unrest, warning that violence and armed participation in 30 June protests will not be tolerated, though peaceful protest remains a constitutional right.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The South African government has dismissed a claim by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that 10 foreign nationals were killed in anti-immigration protests, with an investigation revealing a mixture of unrelated organised crime hits and disputed death tolls in Mossel Bay.
16 June 2026 · The Namibian →
South Africa's Auditor-General has found that the Department of Defence cannot locate portions of its R68.95-billion military asset base, raising concerns about resource management as the country deploys 2,200 troops to crime-affected areas at an estimated cost of R823 million. The department has received recurring qualified audit opinions for nine years and overspent its budget by R2.51 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
30 March 2026 · The Namibian →
An opinion piece argues that President Ramaphosa's decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) against gangsterism on the Cape Flats is flawed because the underfunded military cannot address root causes of crime, the 2019 deployment strategy already failed, and the move diverts scarce resources from the military's core mandate.
17 February 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced he will deploy the military to support police in fighting criminal gangs and illegal mining, with initial deployment focused on the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces where gang violence and illegal mining are rising problems.
14 February 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's 2026 State of the Nation Address employed careful political calculations to address diverse constituencies—including populists demanding military intervention, ANC loyalists seeking preservation of state ownership, free-marketeers wanting private sector participation, and others—while deliberately omitting topics like the Expropriation Act and farm murders that might alienate coalition partners. The speech also downgraded previous priorities like the Fourth Industrial Revolution in favour of green economy rhetoric, and reduced the urgency around gender-based violence despite its earlier treatment as a national emergency.
13 February 2026 · The Namibian →
Iran has withdrawn from the joint naval exercise Will for Peace 2026 in False Bay, despite having sent three warships to the location. Reports suggest South Africa may have urged Iran's withdrawal to avoid antagonizing the US, particularly given concerns that South Africa could be excluded from the African Growth and Opportunity Act renewal due to its ties with Iran, China and Russia.
13 January 2026 · The Namibian →