President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on 12 February 2026 during his State of the Nation Address that he would deploy the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support police operations. The move targets gangsterism on the Cape Flats in the Western Cape and illegal mining activities in Gauteng.

The very next day, on 13 February, the Portfolio Committee on Defence heard stark warnings about the potential impact on SANDF soldier morale. Stellenbosch University Professor Lindy Heinecken, who has interviewed hundreds of troops—including those returning from deadly combat in the Democratic Republic of Congo—told lawmakers that such domestic deployments often feel like punishment to soldiers.

Heinecken, author of Military Operations in Response to Domestic Emergencies and Global Pandemics, drew on global examples and her research. She noted that soldiers train for lethal force in combat but must show restraint when policing civilians. “The moment the military is deployed in a law enforcement and coercive role, it has a severely negative effect on the public image of the military,” Heinecken said.

Internal Deployments Erode Pride and Readiness

Heinecken explained that troops respond well to disaster relief missions but resent crime-fighting roles inside South Africa. “There was a feeling that utilising troops internally means they lose value, exposes their gaps even more, and they risk losing their dignity and pride,” she told the committee.

This comes as nations worldwide turn more to their militaries for internal security. One soldier Heinecken interviewed captured the frustration: “Soldiers have a temper. They become too rough, leading them to assault the civvies. It is not good for the community.”

Her testimony also touched on deeper issues from the SANDF’s recent missions. Troops who fought at Sake Air Base in North Kivu, DRC—where 14 South African soldiers died in clashes with M23 rebels last year—spoke of inadequate weapons, vehicles and body armour. These shortages hurt SANDF soldier morale, Heinecken said, though they did not dent the troops’ commitment.

Soldiers also vented about rushed psychological support, strained personal relationships and reluctance to seek counselling. In mixed-gender units, older male troops worried about protecting less-experienced female colleagues in combat.

Government Yet to Respond to Morale Concerns

The Department of Defence and SANDF leadership did not comment during the committee session on Heinecken’s findings. Newsroom.co.za reached out to both for a response but had received no reply by publication time.