Could Ramaphosa’s Army Deployment Protect Mining Billions?

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that the army will be deployed to combat illegal mining in Gauteng has sparked debate about whether the move could help safeguard billions in mining revenue - and give the economy a further boost. With South Africa benefiting from high global prices for gold and platinum group metals, mining remains a critical pillar of the economy, contributing around 6% to GDP and employing nearly half a million people. But challenges such as illegal mining and logistics bottlenecks continue to limit growth. Phemelo Motene and Gugulethu Mfuphi speak to mining expert David van Wyk about the president’s plan, the risks and rewards of military intervention, and what it could mean for the future of the sector.