Locals weigh in on SANDF deployment against gangs

With gangsterism on the rise, the South African government has announced that the SANDF will support the police in tackling gang violence. We spoke to Boksburg residents to hear their views on whether military involvement is the right solution or if other approaches could work better.

February 23, 2026

Luccia Mashel Less than a minute

Clint Papenfus: I'm not sure it’s the right approach. Soldiers aren’t trained for community work, they might make things worse if they act too harshly.

The South African government announced during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) that the SANDF will be deployed to support the police in combating gang violence and organised crime in communities.
The Boksburg Advertiser spoke to a few locals to find out whether they think sending the army is the right approach.