Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane plans to ask President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the South African National Defence Force in Gqeberha's northern areas amid escalating gang violence. Residents report living in constant fear, feeling like prisoners in their homes due to daily shootings. The request follows Ramaphosa's recent announcement of military support for the Western Cape and Gauteng, but not the Eastern Cape.
In Gqeberha's northern neighbourhoods, such as Helenvale, gang-related shootings have intensified, leaving residents confined to their homes out of fear. Community activist Rina Potgieter described the situation: "We are prisoners in our own homes. Our children can no longer play outside because shootings can happen at any time." She highlighted daily gunshots and a lack of safety, noting that gang members operate openly without fear of police or community repercussions.
Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane's office has responded by preparing a formal request to the Presidency for South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployment to assist local police. Provincial spokesperson Sonwabo Mbananga stated: "The situation in the northern areas of Gqeberha is extremely serious, particularly in terms of gang-related violence and its profound impact on the social and human conditions of the region." He emphasized that crime statistics show the South African Police Service (SAPS) struggling alone, and the provincial government will pursue the matter after President Cyril Ramaphosa's State of the Nation Address.
During that address, Ramaphosa directed Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and the SANDF to plan deployments in the Western Cape and Gauteng to address gang violence and illegal mining, but omitted the Eastern Cape despite ongoing calls for aid. In a January 2026 visit to Gqeberha, Cachalia admitted: "I do not believe that we are currently in a position to defeat these gangs," and noted similarities to Western Cape patterns.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Eastern Cape criticized the omission. MPL Yusuf Cassim said: "Communities in the northern areas... have long called for priority intervention to fight out-of-control gangsterism, yet the President turns a blind eye." He referenced a July 2025 parliamentary report and a December 2025 motion for a joint operations centre, which saw no follow-through. The DA plans a rally on 15 February 2026 at Gelvandale Police Station to question whether residents' lives matter, led by Cassim, mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal, and spokesperson Georgina Faldtman.
No response has been received from the Presidency regarding the exclusion of Gqeberha from the announced interventions.
