Following his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night in Cape Town, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) in tackling rising levels of organised crime, gang violence, and illegal mining in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces. Ramaphosa described organised crime as “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development,” warning that criminal networks have evolved into powerful, mafia-style syndicates that directly undermine the state, the economy, and community safety. Thabiso Tema spoke to Prof Witness Maluleke, Head of Department: Criminology and Criminal Justice of University of Limpopo.