Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
4-minute read
16 February 2026

📷 Experts say the SANDF deployment may be temporary, urging stronger policing and long-term solutions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to combat gang violence on the Cape Flats and in parts of Gauteng has been met with mixed reactions, with experts warning that the move may be more symbolic than sustainable.

Speaking on Radio Islam International, Dr Llewellyn McMaster described the deployment as a worrying signal that the criminal justice system is failing to deal with gangsterism effectively.

He argued that the violence gripping communities is “a criminal justice failure” and not “in essence, a military threat.”

McMaster warned that gangsterism has evolved over decades into “sophisticated criminal networks embedded in communities,” strengthened by deep-rooted socioeconomic challenges.

While many residents have welcomed the visible presence of soldiers, he said it is largely driven by desperation.

“People are sick and tired of picking up bodies, of burying their children, of living in fear and being traumatised,” he said.

Advocate Paul Hoffman echoed concerns that the deployment may be politically motivated, describing it as “nothing more than a pre-election ploy.”

He pointed to the 2019 SANDF deployment, saying it arrived “with much fanfare” but “disappeared six months later,” leaving communities in the same crisis.

Hoffman argued that the real issue lies in structural flaws within the criminal justice system, saying the police, National Prosecuting Authority and other key institutions remain “under the control of the executive branch of government.”

He believes the solution lies in creating an independent anti-corruption and organised crime body, similar to what the courts ordered in the Glenister litigation — a “one-stop shop” outside executive control.

McMaster, however, supports the declaration of a provincial state of disaster, saying it could unlock resources and force departments to work together under “one strategy” with “achievable and measurable goals.”

He also stressed the need for civil society participation, noting frustration with government’s lack of transparency. “We hear about plans and then you don’t even get the plan,” he said.

Hoffman warned that a disaster declaration could harm tourism, but insisted the long-term fix is proper law enforcement and job creation.

“Crime is deterred by enforcing the law and putting them into orange overalls,” he said.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.