EKURHULENI, South Africa — Speaking from the Birchwood Hotel on Saturday, January 24, 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) Lekgotla with a message that balanced a desperate need for order with a sobering reminder of military reality.
Faced with escalating pleas from communities under siege by gang violence—particularly in the Western Cape and parts of Gauteng—the President confirmed that the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is an “active consideration.” However, he issued a stern caveat to those viewing the army as a simple policing tool: soldiers are trained for combat, not community patrolling.
The “Shoot-to-Kill” Warning
In a moment of uncharacteristic bluntness, Ramaphosa cautioned that the institutional DNA of the army differs fundamentally from that of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“We must be very careful,” the President told delegates. “The army is trained to shoot to kill. They are trained for war. When you put soldiers into civilian streets, you are introducing a level of force that requires extremely careful consideration. We do not want to solve one crisis by creating another.”
The President’s comments come as community leaders from the Cape Flats and Westbury have intensified their “manufactured calls” for military intervention, citing a police force that is often outgunned and outnumbered by local syndicates.
The Lekgotla Agenda
The NEC Lekgotla, the party’s highest strategic planning session, is focused on drafting the roadmap for 2026. While the “army vs. gangs” debate dominated the early headlines, the President used his opening remarks to highlight three key pillars for the year:
- The War on Extortion: Acknowledging that “construction mafias” and protection rackets are strangling the economy.
- Economic Stabilization: Reaffirming the “Government of National Unity” (GNU) commitment to structural reforms.
- Community Safety: Bridging the gap between specialized police units and intelligence-led operations.
