South Africa deploys army

South African media have reported that the South African National Defense Forces  will be deployed to the streets of crime hotspots in Cape Town following a string of murders in townships in the city.

The media quoted Minister of Police General Bheki Cele who said the country's  President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa had approved a request for the deployment after he sat down with Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.

"We are working on the matter of deployment. We have mentioned the places that we'll be sealing them off," Cele said.  "We are confronted with the sad reality of multiple burial activities in cemeteries, more than newborns in maternity wards,"
Cele told the police bosses to resign if the situation does not improve in Cape Town.

"The recurring scenes of scattered dead bodies in the streets of Phillippi, Mitchells Plain and Nyanga are unbearable. It is on that score than I challenge all generals in the South African police to surrender their uniforms if this situation does not improve."

Gang shootings in the Western Cape have seen the province maintain its reputation of being South Africa's murder capital.