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President Ramaphosa Deploys Army to Support Police in South Africa's High-Crime Provinces
President Ramaphosa said army support aims to curb gang violence and illegal mining, which cost South Africa over $4 billion annually, focusing on violent hotspots in three provinces.
- Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered troops to support police in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape to combat organized crime and gang violence, with soldiers set to 'take to the streets' under police command.
- Rising gang killings and illegal mining by zama zamas recruiting informal miners from impoverished communities have worsened local crime and forced residents to flee, analysts say.
- Around 90% of gang-related killings occur in the Western Cape province, where Cape Town, South Africa's second-largest city , and the Cape Flats face violence from gangs including the Americans, Hard Livings and Terrible Josters; South Africa deployed 25,000 troops in 2021 during unrest.
- Backed by officials, the deployment is time-limited, with soldiers operating under police command in areas where 'people are losing their lives' every day, experts warn it's not a long-term solution.
- Recent incidents include a standoff that left at least 87 miners dead, a 2022 case involving around 80 alleged illegal miners, and estimates of 30,000 illegal miners in 6,000 abandoned shafts.
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What's behind South Africa's plan to deploy army in high-crime areas?
President Ramaphosa said one part of the army would deploy in the Western Cape province, where Cape Town is located and which statistics say has around 90% of the country's gang-related killings
·Pointe-Noire, Congo (the)
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Arab News
Arab NewsSoldiers on the streets. What’s behind South Africa’s plan to deploy army in high-crime areas
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — It's an unusual move for the African continent's leading democracy: South Africa's president announced earlier this month that he will…
·Washington, United States
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Associated Press News+13 Reposted by 13 other sources
Soldiers on the streets. What's behind South Africa's plan to deploy army in high-crime areas
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will deploy the army to high crime areas to help police in this country that has some of the highest violent crime rates in the world.
·New York, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources22
Leaning Left11Leaning Right3Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
C 30%
15%
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