-
Operation Prosper underway in Delft, Western Cape.
Hundreds of soldiers have been deployed to the Cape Flats, marking the start of Operation Prosper. The intervention follows this year’s State of the Nation Address, where President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the army would be brought in to help curb violent crime and illegal mining.
In the Western Cape, many murders are linked to gangsterism, extortion and taxi-related violence. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is now working alongside law enforcement in crime hotspots.
Over the past few days, soldiers and police conducted raids on suspected drug dens and gang hideouts in areas including Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Delft and Philippi East. Residents in the communities say they are living in fear of ongoing violence.
“We scared to walk to the shops, just this afternoon there was gunshots,” says a resident.
The deployment which has been welcomed by some community members, who say they are hopeful it will bring change.
“My son was killed here by the gang, I’m happy the army is here, I am hopeful,” says another resident.
But not all welcomed the intervention. A community member, who’s home had been raided, was visibly upset.
“They just walked in, I’m busy with my braai, I’m running a business, and they interrupted, its wrong. They should do more. All the police know the corrupt ones and my place there wasnt anyone they were looking for.”
This is the second time the army has been brought in. In 2019, they were also deployed to tackle crime. However, seven years on, the latest crime stats show that the situation has become worse. CEO of the Justice Fund NGO, Lorenzo Davids says resources could be better spent on strengthening policing capacity.
Operation Prosper is a year long deployment across various provinces.
