{"id":103741,"date":"2026-02-17T12:49:44","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:49:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=103741"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:49:44","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T10:49:44","slug":"sandf-deployment-to-cape-flats-parts-of-gauteng-sparks-debate-over-long-term-solutions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/sandf-deployment-to-cape-flats-parts-of-gauteng-sparks-debate-over-long-term-solutions\/","title":{"rendered":"SANDF deployment to Cape Flats, parts of Gauteng sparks debate over long-term solutions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za<\/a>
\n4-minute read
\n16 February 2026<\/p>\n

\"\"

\ud83d\udcf7 Experts say the SANDF deployment may be temporary, urging stronger policing and long-term solutions.<\/p><\/div>\n

President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He argued that the violence gripping communities is \u201ca criminal justice failure\u201d and not \u201cin essence, a military threat.\u201d<\/p>\n

McMaster warned that gangsterism has evolved over decades into \u201csophisticated criminal networks embedded in communities,\u201d strengthened by deep-rooted socioeconomic challenges.<\/p>\n

While many residents have welcomed the visible presence of soldiers, he said it is largely driven by desperation.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople are sick and tired of picking up bodies, of burying their children, of living in fear and being traumatised,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Advocate Paul Hoffman echoed concerns that the deployment may be politically motivated, describing it as \u201cnothing more than a pre-election ploy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He pointed to the 2019 SANDF deployment, saying it arrived \u201cwith much fanfare\u201d but \u201cdisappeared six months later,\u201d leaving communities in the same crisis.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cunder the control of the executive branch of government.\u201d<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 a \u201cone-stop shop\u201d outside executive control.<\/p>\n

McMaster, however, supports the declaration of a provincial state of disaster, saying it could unlock resources and force departments to work together under \u201cone strategy\u201d with \u201cachievable and measurable goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also stressed the need for civil society participation, noting frustration with government\u2019s lack of transparency. \u201cWe hear about plans and then you don\u2019t even get the plan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cCrime is deterred by enforcing the law and putting them into orange overalls,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Listen<\/strong> to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim<\/em><\/a> with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 4-minute read 16 February 2026 President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":103742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,4995],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-103741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-south-africa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/SANDF.jpeg?fit=321%2C157&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-qZf","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-29 08:50:09","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103741","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/103741\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103742"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=103741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}