Cape Flats residents express concerns over Operation Prosper's impact
The South African National Defence Force said its deployment on the Cape Flats is having an impact with several guns confiscated and arrests made.
Image: Armand Hough
Cape Flats communities believe that Operation Prosper, a joint initiative by the police and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has significantly underestimated the severity of gang activity, illegal mining, extortion, and violent crime in the area.
During his State of the Nation Address on 12 February, Ramaphosa outlined plans for the SANDF to be deployed across nine provinces hardest hit by serious and violent crime, with a specific focus on stabilising gang-ridden hotspot areas identified through crime intelligence.
The operation is expected to run for a full year to address the ongoing challenges of gang violence.
While hosting a media briefing to update the public on the president’s programme, Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, shared how they are also awaiting the Phala Phala judgment.
Image: GCIS
While hosting a media briefing to update the public on the president’s programme, presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said a report on the operation is being compiled for the president.
“On Operation Prosper, my understanding is that a report is being prepared to give an update on progress and how that operation is unfolding. I also understand that the report, or parts of that report, will be shared with you, as the media. Let me not preempt that process at this stage.
“It's been a month or so since the deployment, and I guess, depending on how you look at it, one has to say, you're dealing with very well entrenched criminal syndicates that are at play here,” Magwenya said.
Mitchell's Plain Community Policing Forum (CPF) spokesperson, Linda Jones, said she does not really see an improvement or a reduction in criminal activities.
“My understanding was that the joint operation would be done jointly, and sometimes you see the army van standing here or passing by. I have seen how they just drive past men standing on corners without (conducting) stop and searches, to be very brutally honest.
“I think that money could have been put to better use to fix the resources of SAPS, such as employing more intelligence services, improving the lives of those living on the streets and in doing so alleviating crime,” Jones said.
Fight Against Crime spokesperson Jay Jay Idel said from their perspective, Operation Prosper has been a serious disappointment, and communities deserve to hear that said plainly.
“Between 6 April and 3 May 2026, FACSA recorded approximately 238 serious incidents across the flats through our community-based reporting platform. 67 involving fatalities or serious injuries, 48 involving critical violence, and over 131 still being classified.
“These are community-reported figures and official records may differ, but they reflect what people on the ground are actually living through while government pats itself on the back for showing up,” Idel said.
“Hanover Park, Manenberg, Heideveld, Mitchells Plain, Delft. The same areas. The same names. The same bloodshed. Gang shootings, retaliation attacks and drive-bys didn't stop because soldiers arrived. They continued, right through the deployment."