Ramaphosa praises police success despite army deployment

President Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the police's ability to keep communities safe, despite his intention to deploy the army to assist them in two provinces.

Ramaphosa announced in his State of the Nation address on Friday night that he will be deploying the South African National Defence Force to the Western Cape to help in the fight against gang violence.

READ: Army and police a ‘strong combination’ against crime, says Ramaphosa

The defence force will also bolster the police in Gauteng to target illegal mining and zama zamas.

But Ramaphosa told the media on Friday that he believes the police are doing well.

"The SAPS has been doing extremely well. They've been doing very well in various projects or missions like Operation Shanela. They have done extremely well. Our jails are now filled to over capacity because of the success that they have been recording."