Johannesburg: Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa's directive to deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to Gauteng to address illegal mining and escalating gang violence. 'We are pleased that these soldiers have already arrived in our province,' said Premier Lesufi during the State of the Province Address on Monday at Nasrec, Johannesburg.
According to South African Government News Agency, illegal mining in Gauteng has reached intolerable levels, forcing over 600 families, including women and children, to flee their homes in January 2026 due to violence and threats from aggressive gangs. These activities primarily affect the communities of West Rand, Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, and Sedibeng Districts. Premier Lesufi highlighted that these dangerous syndicates use high-calibre weapons like AK-47s to take over illegal mining sites, and he affirmed the government's commitment to protecting law-abiding residents.
The Premier recounted a recent incident in the West Rand where all spheres of government united against the Zama-Zamas, who attempted to intimidate the community of Sporong. This effort resulted in a joint operation recovering 75 AK47 rifles and rounds of ammunition. The West Rand municipality is the primary recipient of the newly announced SANDF deployment.
In addressing the rise of informal settlements, Lesufi stated that the province is witnessing an abnormal increase in such settlements, which must be curbed to prevent the region from becoming a shanty town. A multi-disciplinary team has been formed to tackle this issue, with the first removal effort targeting Plastic City in Ekurhuleni, involving over 2,500 people. Lesufi clarified that the initiative is not against the poor and homeless but targets the 'Mkhukhu' mafias exploiting vulnerable individuals.
The next informal settlement targeted for removal is Plastic View in Tshwane, although initial efforts were unsuccessful. However, plans are in place to return later this year with reinforced support from law enforcement and municipal authorities. Additionally, the provincial government will be in Benoni to hand over 188 walk-up units at the Chief Albert Luthuli mega housing project, benefiting residents from various informal settlements.
The government has also identified Makause informal settlement in Ekurhuleni as a development priority, with 200 hectares acquired for upgrades. Innovative sanitation solutions are being piloted in informal settlements to provide residents with clean and dignified facilities.
To address traffic congestion affecting the province's economy, the Gauteng Executive Council has adopted the Transport Master Plan, which aims to enhance the integration of rail, bus, taxi, and non-motorised transport through corridor-based investment. 'We welcome the adoption of the Integrated Transport Master Plan that begins to shift planning to action,' Lesufi concluded.