South Africa's military has been officially deployed to several parts of the country to help police combat violent crimes, including illegal mining and gangs.
President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year announced the deployment of 2,200 troops to five of the country's nine provinces most affected by criminal activity.
Officials say the year-long deployment is aimed at restoring order in crime-plagued areas, but critics warn that using the military in civilian policing rarely yields lasting results.
Illegal mining and gang violence are major problems in South Africa, where the murder rate is one of the highest in the world.
According to the latest crime figures, covering the period between October and December 2025, around 71 people were killed every day.
An initial group of troops was deployed to several parts of Gauteng province in March, including Johannesburg.
The second and main group will support operations in the Eastern Cape, Free State, North West and Western Cape provinces for a year from April 1.
The BBC spoke to several residents in Eldorado Park, a Johannesburg suburb, weeks after troops arrived in the area. It is one of three Johannesburg suburbs that were targeted in the initial military deployment due to the high levels of gang violence there.
Some people interviewed expressed skepticism about the presence of soldiers in their neighborhoods.
Pensioner Leola Davis, 74, described Eldorado Park as a “hell-hole to live in”.
She said, “Sodom and Gomorrah have nothing on this place. I stay indoors all day because I don't want to be the next victim. Things are getting worse.”
Alvina Le Roux, a mother of three, told the BBC that she did not think having troops in the area would help, saying it would “make the violence worse”.
Ronald Rabie, 56, said that while seeing the army patrolling the streets makes a difference because it creates a safer environment for families, the peace is short-lived.
“Once they leave, things go haywire again – they need to stay here permanently,” said the father of three.
The deployment of the military to crime-ridden areas of South Africa has drawn mixed reactions (Anadolu via Getty Images)
This is not the first time that Ramaphosa has deployed troops to help reduce high levels of crime in the country.
In 2023, more than 3,000 soldiers were deployed across the country for six months to help combat illegal mining.
In July 2021, the army was also deployed to help suppress deadly riots in the country following the arrest of former South African President Jacob Zuma.
Under South African law, soldiers can arrest civilians only in rare circumstances and must then hand the suspect over to the police as soon as possible.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that the army is trained for war – not for the community-based policing needed to build trust.
And there is history to contend with. The racist apartheid regime used the military to enforce its rule – a legacy that still shapes how some South Africans view soldiers on their streets.
Criminologist Guy Lamb told the BBC he was not sure the deployment would have lasting results, saying the troops were “not designed to be involved in policing” but to be involved in combat and use maximum force.
“There is a danger that they will escalate situations or react too aggressively in stressful situations,” he said.
He cited his conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example. The military deployment during that period, which was intended to help enforce curfews and other restrictions, was sharply criticized as reports emerged of soldiers using excessive force, unlawfully detaining and harassing civilians.
Officials are hopeful the troop presence will make a difference this time, but Lamb isn't entirely convinced.
He said that without “a dedicated plan… to address why crime is so violent in such places”, there was a strong possibility that it would flare up again after the troops left.
“So we are likely to see that happening in the near future, because this plan to address what are the root causes of crime in (these) areas is not in place.”
Additional reporting by Khanyisile Ngcobo
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(Getty Images/BBC)
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