What happened
Under Operation Prosper, 2,200 SANDF soldiers were deployed starting 1 April to assist SAPS across five provinces: the Western Cape, Gauteng, Free State, North West, and Eastern Cape. The operation will run for 12 months at a cost of R823 million.
The joint operation launched in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, with planned expansion to Manenberg, Hanover Park, and Philippi. In the Western Cape, 257 of 276 gang-related murders in the third quarter occurred in the province.
Why it matters: Cape Flats residents have lived under siege from gang violence for years. Grandmother Asa Galant, 70, ventured outside her burglar gate for the first time in months after troops arrived.
The case for deployment
Minister Khumbudzo Ntshaveni said the SANDF deployment is “not a silver bullet” but will act as a “force multiplier” with clear rules of engagement. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said it will provide space for SAPS “to disrupt, disable and dismantle organised crime groupings.”
Teacher Joely Manuel from the Cape Flats said: “Violence makes us fear for our safety, especially for the children.” Many families had sent children away to continue schooling safely.
The case for caution
DA MP Ian Cameron questioned whether courts could handle increased arrests. Western Cape Premier Winde pointed to chronic SAPS underfunding and neglected specialised units as the root problem.
Reports of discrepancies in actual troop numbers have emerged, with figures of 200, 800, and as few as 90 reported at different points, raising questions about the scale of the deployment on the ground.
What happens next
The operation runs until March 2027. Expansion to additional areas is planned. Two new SANDF leadership appointments have been made: Bareng Mtimkulu as Secretary of Defence and Lieutenant General Carl Moatshe as SA Air Force commander.