South African soldiers have been deployed in Johannesburg, specifically in Eldorado Park and Riverlea, to combat escalating crime and gang violence, nearly a month after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the army's involvement alongside police. This deployment, initially involving 550 soldiers in Gauteng province until the end of April, is part of a broader plan to address organized crime, which the president identified as a significant threat to democracy and economic development. The government intends to extend military assistance to five provinces, focusing on illegal mining in Gauteng, North West, and Free State, and gang violence in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, with some deployments potentially lasting over a year. This action comes amidst South Africa's high homicide rates, with 6,351 reported in the last quarter of 2025, though some residents and experts express skepticism about the army's effectiveness in addressing the root causes of violence.