JOHANNESBURG, March 13 (Reuters) – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday authorised the deployment of 2,200 members of the national defence force to help combat crime.
* Ramaphosa said the deployment serves to prevent andcombat crime, and support and preserve law and order bytargeting illegal mining and gangsterism. * The deployed members of the national defence force willassist the South African Police Service in five provinces: theEastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West and Western Cape. * Expenditure for this employment is estimated at 823million rand ($49 million). * The deployment is from March 1, 2026 until March 31,2027.
($1 = 16.7304 rand)
(Reporting by Anathi Madubela; Editing by Toby Chopra)