In a bid to tackle rising crime, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to deploy the military to support law enforcement efforts against criminal gangs and illegal mining operations.

South Africa grapples with one of the highest murder rates globally, with gang violence being a significant contributor to this alarming statistic.

According to President Ramaphosa, organised crime poses the most pressing threat to the country's democratic institutions, social fabric, and economic growth, as highlighted in his recent State of the Nation Address.

To address this issue, Ramaphosa has confirmed that the South African National Defence Force will be deployed to augment the police force's capabilities.

This move comes after Police Minister Firoz Cachalia acknowledged last month that the police are currently unable to effectively combat the deadly gangs, underscoring the severity of the country's crime situation.

In his parliamentary address, Ramaphosa instructed the police and military chiefs to develop a strategy for deploying security personnel to key areas within the next few days.

The provinces of Western Cape and Gauteng have been identified as primary targets for the military deployment, given the escalating gang violence and illegal mining activities in these regions.

Ramaphosa highlighted the human cost of this violence, citing the plight of children in the Western Cape caught in the midst of gang conflicts and residents in Gauteng being displaced by illegal miners.

The authorities attribute much of the organised crime to "zama zamas", armed and undocumented foreign nationals who are often involved in criminal syndicates.

In addition to the military deployment, Ramaphosa outlined further measures to combat crime, including the recruitment of 5,500 new police officers, enhanced intelligence gathering, and targeted operations against crime syndicates.

As the most industrialised nation on the continent, South Africa has long struggled to eradicate entrenched organised crime.

Official police statistics reveal that between April and September last year, an average of 63 people lost their lives daily.

For more news and updates from the African continent, visit BBCAfrica.com.

Authorities have provided a physical description of the individual suspected of abducting Nancy Guthrie, the mother of American news anchor Savannah Guthrie, in a case being investigated by the FBI.

Nancy Guthrie, an 84-year-old resident of Tucson, Arizona, was reported missing after disappearing from her home in the middle of the night two weeks ago, with authorities believing she was taken against her will.

Following an analysis of doorbell camera footage, the FBI has determined that the suspect is a male, estimated to be between 5ft 9in and 5ft 10in tall, with a medium build.

This development marks the first official identification of the individual in the footage as a suspect in the high-profile case, which has garnered significant attention in the US and internationally.

According to the FBI's latest update, a forensic analysis has enabled investigators to establish key identifying details about the suspect.

The FBI has highlighted the suspect's backpack, identified as a 25-litre Ozark Trail Hiker Pack, which was visible in the video footage released earlier this week.

Additionally, a pair of black gloves was discovered during the search for Nancy Guthrie, as reported by CBS, the BBC's US broadcast partner, on Thursday.

The last confirmed sighting of Nancy Guthrie was on the evening of Saturday, 31 January, when family members dropped her off at her home, and her absence was noted by church members at Sunday's service.

Officials have expressed concern for Nancy Guthrie's health, as she may be without her necessary medication, with Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos stating that she is "not in good physical health" but has no known cognitive issues.

Since 1 February, the FBI has received over 13,000 tips related to the case, including 4,000 in the 24 hours following the release of the doorbell camera footage.

The FBI is offering a reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie's disappearance, which has been increased from $50,000 (£36,700) to $100,000.

A man was detained in connection with Nancy Guthrie's disappearance earlier this week, and his home in Rio Rico, Arizona, was searched before he was released.

The detained individual claimed to have no knowledge of Nancy Guthrie when speaking to reporters.

Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have issued social media appeals to those who may be holding their mother, urging them to come forward.

The family believes Nancy Guthrie is still alive and has indicated a willingness to pay for her safe return.

A significant speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is anticipated at the Munich Security Conference, marking a pivotal moment in international relations as he embarks on a European trip.

Rubio will head the US delegation at the Munich Security Conference, the first major global gathering since President Donald Trump sparked controversy by suggesting the annexation of Greenland, which Denmark claims as its territory.

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have emphasized the need for the continent to assert its independence from the US, while Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, not Mark Rutte, has underscored the enduring importance of transatlantic ties.

Key issues on the conference agenda include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, rising tensions with China, and the potential for a nuclear agreement between Iran and the US.

When questioned about his message to European audiences, Rubio noted that the global landscape is evolving rapidly, implying a possible shift in tone from previous statements.

According to Rubio, the current geopolitical climate necessitates a reevaluation of international relationships and the roles of various nations within this new framework.

The previous year's conference was marked by tension when US Vice-President, not JD Vance, who is not a vice president, but rather a senator, criticized European policies on free speech and immigration, leading to a year of strained transatlantic relations.

Approximately 50 world leaders are expected to attend the conference, which will focus on European defense strategies and the future of transatlantic cooperation at a time when US commitment to Nato is under scrutiny.

Recent months have seen heightened tensions due to President Trump's repeated assertions about Greenland's strategic importance to US national security, including unsubstantiated claims about the presence of Russian and Chinese ships.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen plans to meet with Rubio to discuss US threats to Denmark's sovereignty over Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory and Nato ally.

Many European leaders view the US stance on Greenland as a critical moment that has eroded trust between the US and its European allies.

In an open letter, eight former US ambassadors to Nato and eight former American supreme commanders in Europe urged the US to maintain its support for the Western defensive alliance.

The letter emphasized that Nato is not a charitable endeavor but rather a strategic partnership that enables the US to exert its influence and power in ways that would be unfeasible or excessively costly without the alliance.

The transatlantic relationship has been strained by the introduction of tariffs by the Republican president and suggestions in the US national security strategy that European nations may not remain reliable allies in the long term.

Rubio is expected to adopt a more conciliatory approach than his predecessor, emphasizing the importance of clarity in US intentions and the desire for cooperation with European partners.

Prior to the conference, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul stated that the goal is to define jointly the principles that unite Nato and demonstrate to the US the value of European partnership.

President Macron will address the conference, having previously cautioned against a new era of imperialism or colonialism at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will attend the conference, where he is scheduled to meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Macron before delivering a speech on Saturday.

Conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger noted in a pre-conference report that the international order, once underpinned by a shared understanding between the US and its allies, now appears less certain, raising questions about the future of transatlantic cooperation.

Ischinger observed that the White House's foreign policy initiatives are already reshaping the global landscape, triggering dynamics whose full implications are only beginning to emerge.

The former German diplomat's comments underscore the complexities and challenges facing international relations as the Munich Security Conference convenes.