United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader General Bantu Holomisa has confirmed that the Department of Defence is ready to deploy soldiers to gang-ravaged areas within two weeks, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive outlined in the 2026 State of the Nation Address.
Speaking in an interview immediately following SONA 2026, Holomisa — who serves as deputy minister of Defence and Military Veterans — said the department is awaiting final authorisation from Parliament before moving troops in.
“What we are expecting to do now is to get a word from Parliament to say go move in, then we move in. Within two weeks, I’m sure we will be deploying troops, working with the police and making sure that the orders of the president are carried out,” Holomisa said.
The deployment forms part of a broader security plan Holomisa said was thoroughly discussed towards the end of last year and again this year during Cabinet lekgotla. He credited the Government of National Unity for prioritising the country’s security situation.
Holomisa, however, issued a direct appeal to the public, warning against any hostile confrontation with soldiers.
“I need to ask the people of South Africa that we are going to require cooperation from them. No one should point a gun to our soldiers because we will be there doing a job, and if you shoot a soldier then you are going to put us in trouble,” he said.
The UDM leader also addressed ongoing concerns regarding the country’s poorest borders, acknowledging that while troops are already deployed there, the department faces significant funding challenges.
“We are ready to assist the other departments in that regard. However, we must make sure that we have the right equipment and also make sure that we have support when we deploy our troops at the borders,” Holomisa said.
He expressed confidence that the president’s instruction would compel National Treasury to release the necessary funds without delay.
“No clerk or an official in the department of treasury will be telling us all sorts of stories. We have to make sure that the security of South Africa is restored with immediate effect and deal with this lawlessness which we have experienced for the last couple of years,” Holomisa said.
The deployment is expected to see soldiers working alongside South African Police Service members in areas severely affected by gang violence.