WATCH: Communities in Cape Flats experience the SANDF and SAPS Operation Prosper's launch
The SANDF, SAPS and Metro Police in Valhalla Park
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Communities living in gang hotspots across the Cape Flats got a taste of what Operation Prosper will look like over the next year, following a joint operational parade and a visible show of force through some of the province’s most crime-affected areas.
The coordinated initiative saw multiple law enforcement and emergency response agencies mobilise in a display aimed at reinforcing state presence in areas long plagued by gang violence.
The parade at SAPS Belhar Squadron marked the final readiness phase ahead of the official deployment in the Western Cape, set to commence on 1 April 2026 following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address that SANDF members would support SAPS in crime prevention operations.
Western Cape SAPS Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, addressed members on parade, highlighting the extensive planning behind the operation and calling on communities to support the initiative.
“A lot of planning has taken place behind closed doors,sharing problems, perceptions, understanding and learning from one another with the brigadier genera from the SANDF. We thank you for the hard work that you've done to realise this,” Patekile said.
He acknowledged community partners, saying: “Our acknowledgement goes to our partners in the CPF, neighbourhood watches, safety activists and the community. All we ask is that communities support these efforts. We request you to welcome with open arms these members, they are here to protect you. We are here to serve you.”
Patekile stressed the operation’s purpose: “It is a resolve that we've made that our communities must be safe. The teams that are in front of you are here to create safety in this province and especially in the City of Cape Town, particularly the Cape Flats. Looking at the parade in front of me and knowing the preparations, we are confident that we are going to achieve what we set for ourselves. We don’t plan to fail, we plan to succeed.”
In action in Leonsdale
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Deputy National Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, emphasised the intelligence-driven nature of the operation and national coordination.
“The commitment that we have made is that we are going to be led by our intelligence structures. We are going to strengthen this national effort under Operation Prosper,” she said, stressing that the operation is not ceremonial.
“This is not a ceremonial exercise. It is us ascending to the directive to step up and ensure the safety and security of our people.”
SANDF Director of Operations, Brigadier Martin Gopane, outlined both mindset and mandate for deployed members. “Starting tomorrow until March 2027 we have two bags: first bag is full of luck, second is empty of experience. I am asking you to empty the bag of luck and fill up the bag of experience,” he said.
He added that the mission includes implied and specified tasks. “The implied task is to protect the community and yourself. Then there are specified tasks, which are tasks to be conducted besides war.
“Think about the principles of war in each operation which you are going to embark on. We are here to rebuild the social fabric of the communities. They are our friends, brothers and sisters, and we are there to protect them.”
Gopane highlighted the desired outcomes of Operation Prosper: “Reduce serious and violent crime, neutralize any criminality, and strengthen the multi-agency approach we are operating on.”
Western Cape Policing Oversight MEC Anroux Marais emphasised the need for strong action. “It’s time we confront criminals who do not play by the rules. Partnership between law enforcement and community is what we need to succeed,” she said.
The SANDF and SAPS during Operation Prosper parade
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
Deputy Chief of the City of Cape Town's Metro Police, Chris Jones, highlighted community engagement as critical.
“We need to make sure the cries of the community are being attended to. We need to get the community on board and use a softer approach, and the City of Cape Town will help in this way as well. Communities can move around freely while operations are ongoing,” he said. Jones also sent a warning to gangs: “Gang leaders need to run from us.”
Member of Parliament Dereleen James framed the operation as a pivotal moment for families and victims.
“Now is the time to give peace to every mother that has a child that has been penalized for the child that is on drugs. You will fetch our children from the slums that have been keeping them.
“That is your work. You will represent every victim that has fallen prey to gender-based violence. You're going to make sure that the Cape, the Western Cape, no longer has the highest weight of abandonment. That is what you are going to do here today,” she said.
Following the parade, members conducted a drive-through across Valhalla Park, Leonsdale, Bishop Lavis, Elsies River, and parts of Goodwood, offering residents a first-hand look at the increased presence of law enforcement.
They also conducted stop and searches and did walk-throughs with SAPS listening to the communities concerns.
Many community members stopped members to thank them for their time and sacrifice. In Leonsdale, a resident said: “This will be the first Passover with peace.
This is also the time our children have school holiday and finally they will be able to play outside without having to duck and dive for bullets. I wish the gangsters had so much guts now to come out… now we will see the cowardness.”
Authorities say Operation Prosper will involve sustained intelligence-led operations, continuous patrols, community engagement, and multi-agency coordination designed to dismantle gang networks and reduce violent crime.
The operation is expected to continue through March 2027, with active community participation viewed as essential to its success.
Residents across the Cape Flats also made it clear: They will be watching closely to see whether the increased boots on the ground, combined with coordinated enforcement and community collaboration, can finally bring stability and security to communities long plagued by gang violence.