Overview
- Armoured vehicles and SANDF soldiers conducted joint patrols and house‑to‑house searches in Eldorado Park, Riverlea and Westbury as the rollout began on Wednesday.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa’s notice to Parliament authorizes 550 troops for Gauteng through the end of April at an expected cost of about R80–R81 million.
- Police briefings to lawmakers outline a wider plan spanning five provinces, targeting illegal mining in Gauteng, North West and Free State and gang violence in the Western and Eastern Cape, with some elements potentially lasting up to a year.
- Parliamentary committees pressed for a coherent, intelligence‑driven operational plan and clear roles, while the Defence Department signaled a larger budget request of roughly R823 million with additional funding expected in an Adjustment Budget.
- Many residents welcomed the convoy and expressed hopes for reduced shootings, as experts warned the army is not a long‑term policing solution and SAPS pledged strict oversight and rights protections during operations.