“Residents Welcome Boots on Ground, But Shootings Continue”
CCN Reporting
Cape Town:- As South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldiers mark roughly six days on the streets of the Cape Flats, communities are sending a mixed message: cautious welcome for the visible presence, but growing frustration as gang-related shootings and killings show little sign of slowing down.
Operation Prosper, which saw around 800 troops begin joint operations with SAPS from 1-2 April 2026 in hotspots including Mitchells Plain (Tafelsig, Rocklands), Manenberg, Hanover Park, Philippi, Bonteheuwel, Kalksteenfontein and others, was meant to act as a “force multiplier” to stabilise high-violence areas. Yet fresh incidents of gun violence have continued almost daily.
Key Body Points
- Community reaction: Many residents say they feel a slight sense of relief with soldiers patrolling alongside police and LEAP units. Some elderly people reportedly ventured outside more freely for the first time in months. Community forums and leaders have largely backed the deployment, describing it as a necessary show of force after spikes like 23 murders in just 11 days earlier in March.
- Ongoing violence despite deployment: Multiple reports confirm shootings have persisted. Examples in the first week include:
- Shootings in Bonteheuwel (Redberry Street), Kalksteenfontein (Gloxinia Street – two people shot, retaliatory car torched), Valhalla Park, Manenberg, Delft, Wesbank and more.
- Easter weekend saw additional gang-related deaths of young men.
- Residents and groups like Mitchells Plain United Residents Association (MURA) say gangs appear to be “easily evading” the joint forces so far, with some describing it as “business as usual” in the very short term.
- Official side: City of Cape Town’s Mayco Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, has been out assessing operations and welcomes the extra resources for intel follow-ups and stabilisation. SAPS emphasises that soldiers support but police handle arrests. Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili and others have highlighted coordinated efforts across 17 priority areas. However, officials also stress this is temporary and the justice system (detectives, courts) needs urgent strengthening.
- Scepticism and deeper issues: Critics and analysts (including some former police commanders) question long-term impact, pointing to past deployments that failed to dismantle gang structures. Issues raised include gangs adapting tactics, root causes like poverty/unemployment/drugs, and the need for better prosecutions and corruption-free policing. Some community voices say patience is wearing thin and visible patrols alone won’t break entrenched networks.
- Context: The year-long deployment (until March 2027) is part of a national push, but on the Cape Flats it targets gangsterism and violent crime specifically. No comprehensive post-deployment crime stats are available yet, it’s simply too early.