WESTERN CAPE: The South African National Defence Force has officially begun deploying troops to gang-ridden areas of Cape Town, marking the commencement of a joint operation with police that was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year.

Operation Prosper was officially launched yesterday at a parade held at 35 Squadron in Belhar, where integrated law enforcement and security forces demonstrated their readiness ahead of deployment today.

The initiative follows President Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address on 12 February that SANDF members would support the South African Police Service in addressing gang violence in identified hotspots. Preparation for the deployment began in mid-March.

Attending the launch were Anroux Marais, MEC for police oversight and community safety; Dereleen James, Member of Parliament; Lt Gen. Tebello Mosikilli, Deputy National Commissioner; Lt Gen. Thembisile Patekile, Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape; Brig. Martin Gopane of the SANDF; and acting Commissioner Christopher Jones from the City of Cape Town.

Western Cape police spokesperson Col. André Traut said Operation Prosper represents a coordinated and intelligence-driven response to crime, with specific focus on combating violent and firearm-related offences that continue to threaten community safety and stability.

“The deployment will see enhanced visibility, joint patrols, roadblocks, and targeted interventions in identified high-risk areas,” Traut said.

He added that police management has welcomed the additional capacity brought by the SANDF, and that the success of Operation Prosper will rely on continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.

Members of the public are encouraged to support the initiative by reporting criminal activities and working alongside authorities to create safer neighbourhoods.

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However, Premier Alan Winde and Marais have cautioned that whilst the deployment may provide short-term stabilisation in gang-affected communities, it cannot be viewed as a comprehensive or lasting solution to the deeply entrenched problem of gangsterism and organised crime.

Marais said the current crisis is the direct result of years of systemic under-resourcing, inadequate recruitment, and the steady erosion of critical policing capabilities within SAPS.

“The reality is that SAPS has been stretched beyond its limits. Chronic underfunding, insufficient personnel numbers, and the neglect of specialised units have significantly weakened the state’s ability to respond effectively to organised crime and gang violence,” Marais said.

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She stressed that key units such as Crime Intelligence, the Anti-Gang Unit, and Detective Services have not been adequately prioritised or capacitated, undermining efforts to dismantle sophisticated criminal networks and secure successful prosecutions.

“Soldiers may assist in restoring a degree of order, but they do not replace the need for a professional, well-resourced, intelligence-led police service. Without urgent structural reform and investment in SAPS, we will continue to fight crime on the back foot,” she said.

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Marais commended the men and women in uniform who are taking the fight directly to organised crime and gangsterism under Operation Prosper.

Winde called on national government and the Acting Minister of Police to urgently prioritise the strengthening of SAPS in the Western Cape by expanding crime intelligence, restoring and strengthening specialised units, and enhancing detective and forensic support.

He reiterated the Western Cape Government’s longstanding call for the expansion of certain policing powers to capable municipalities, particularly in relation to the investigation of gang-related and firearm-related crimes.

“Empowering municipal law enforcement agencies with additional investigative authority would immediately enhance our collective capacity to respond to crime and protect our communities,” Winde said.

He reaffirmed the province’s commitment to working collaboratively with all spheres of government, whilst standing firm in its position that sustainable safety will only be achieved through meaningful reform and the proper resourcing of SAPS.

“Our communities deserve more than temporary interventions. They deserve a policing system that is capable, credible, and equipped to dismantle criminal networks and uphold the rule of law,” Winde said.

“Our communities deserve more than temporary interventions. They deserve a policing system that is capable, credible, and equipped to dismantle criminal networks and uphold the rule of law,” he said.

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