Overview
- A mission plan presented to parliament sets a 12‑month deployment, with officials citing dates running to 31 March 2027 and training underway before full roll‑out.
- Operations will target gangsterism in the Western Cape and Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape, and illegal mining in Gauteng, North West and the Free State.
- Police leaders stress soldiers will not perform ordinary policing, with limited arrest powers requiring immediate handover of suspects and exhibits to SAPS under the Criminal Procedure Act.
- Command will run through joint operational centers and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, with weekly progress reporting and human‑rights‑focused rules of engagement.
- The plan draws criticism from opposition MPs over SAPS performance and long‑term efficacy, while government pairs the deployment with an organised‑crime strategy, new police recruitment and added security funding.