The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and South African Police Service (SAPS) have commenced preparatory operations in Cape Town ahead of the military’s deployment to tackle gang violence in identified crime hotspots.
A select contingent of SAPS officials and SANDF members are conducting an operational scanning exercise from Wednesday to Thursday (18 and 19 March), involving air and ground presence of limited forces at various identified locations across the city.
Brigadier Novela Potelwa, spokesperson for Western Cape police, emphasised that “the exercise should not be mistaken for the actual commencement of deployment of the SANDF” and described it as “essential preparation for the integrated forces ahead of the actual deployment.”
Potelwa urged members of the public to “respect the operational space these forces require and refrain from speculating about their presence in the targeted areas.”
The preparatory operations follow President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address on 12 February that SANDF members would be deployed to support the SAPS in addressing gang violence and illicit mining at identified crime hotspots.
The operational scanning exercise represents the final preparatory phase before the formal military deployment commences in the Western Cape’s most troubled areas.
