Overview
- Armored vehicles and troops moved into Eldorado Park, Riverlea and Westbury on Wednesday, conducting door-to-door searches alongside police.
- An official notice to Parliament authorizes 550 SANDF members in Gauteng from January 30 through the end of April at an expected cost of R80,736,135.
- Police submissions to lawmakers outline a broader, five‑province effort targeting illegal mining and gang violence, with some phases potentially extending beyond a year.
- Parliamentary committees are reviewing the deployment as the Defence Department seeks about R823 million, with officials saying current operations draw on existing resources pending a later budget adjustment.
- The presidency says soldiers support rather than replace policing under defined rules of engagement, while experts and some residents question long‑term effectiveness.