WATCH: The Army spotted in Cape Town | Conducting operational scanning exercise
The South African National Defence Force will be deployed to hot spots in and around the Western Cape
Image: FILE
Residents and motorists travelling along Baden Powell Drive and sections of the N2 have reported sightings of members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), raising fresh questions about when the much-anticipated deployment to gang-affected areas will officially begin.
While the presence of military personnel has sparked speculation that operations are already underway, authorities have cautioned that the activity forms part of preparatory exercises and not the formal start of deployment.
A well-placed source told Weekend Argus that the army is “well on their way” and currently undergoing training to carry out operations aimed at addressing gang violence, with implementation expected as early as the beginning of April. The source further indicated that the deployment is intended to be short-term.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa confirmed that joint preparations between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the SANDF are currently underway.
“As part of preparations for the much-anticipated deployment of the SANDF to identified hotspots in Cape Town, a select contingent of SAPS officials with SANDF members are currently conducting an operational scanning exercise from Wednesday through to Thursday (18 and 19 March),” Potelwa said.
She emphasised that the exercise should not be mistaken for the commencement of the deployment, noting that it includes both air and ground presence of limited forces across identified locations.
“The operational exercise currently underway is essential preparation for the integrated forces ahead of the actual deployment. Members of the public are urged to respect the operational space these forces require and refrain from speculating about their presence in the targeted areas,” she added.
The planned intervention follows an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the State of the Nation Address on 12 February 2026, where he confirmed that SANDF members would be deployed to support SAPS in tackling gang violence and illicit mining in identified crime hotspots.
However, concerns have been raised over the apparent lack of clarity surrounding the rollout.
Nicholas Gotsell said the Democratic Alliance supports the short-term deployment, stressing that communities urgently need intervention. He argued that the operation should already have been fully operational, given the timeline since the President’s announcement.
“Given that the deployment was announced on 12 February 2026, one would have expected that the necessary planning, training, and command structures were already in place, particularly if proper consultation had occurred with the relevant security agencies prior to the President’s SONA announcement. Yet, this was far from the actual reality,” Gotsell said.
He further pointed to a lack of detailed information provided to Parliament in multiple subsequent meetings, including uncertainty around training of deployed members, command and control structures, joint operational coordination, and the criteria for identifying areas under what is referred to as Operation Prosper.
According to Gotsell, as recently as last week’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence meeting, the SANDF was unable to provide key assurances to Parliament. He questioned what developments had occurred within a short timeframe that enabled a joint media briefing by senior SAPS and SANDF leadership shortly thereafter.
“The question is clear: what changed within 48 hours and why was Parliament not informed?” he asked.
Gotsell also raised concerns about transparency and financial oversight, noting that the deployment involves an estimated R823 million in public funds.
He highlighted ongoing investigations by the Hawks and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into alleged corruption within the department, including irregular procurement and expenditure flagged by the Auditor-General.
While acknowledging that community safety remains a priority, Gotsell said the DA would exercise strict oversight during upcoming parliamentary discussions to ensure the deployment does not become “another avenue for large-scale looting.”