About ten armored vehicles rolled through the Johannesburg suburb of Riverlea on Wednesday, an area long plagued by gang violence and crime linked to illegal mining.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in February that the army would be deployed in the fight against organized crime, which he called "the biggest threat" to the country's democracy and economic development.
Riverlea is first, but the military operation is planned to include several South African cities and provinces and is expected to last just over a year.
South Africa is characterized by widespread crime, including murders, rapes and robberies. An average of 70 people were murdered per day between October and December 2025.
