“Army is not a permanent solution”: as SANDF make their way through Cape Flats

The deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to the Cape Flats has drawn a mixed response from community leaders and anti-crime activists, with many welcoming the intervention but warning that more decisive action is needed to curb ongoing crime.

This is as soldiers have begun their Operation Prosper mission in various parts of Cape Town on Wednesday, driving through local streets in armoured vehicles and raiding homes of possible criminal activity.

🟡As a show of force ahead of Operation Prosper, law enforcement vehicles were filmed by residents moving through Valhalla Park, Matroosfontein and Elsies River this afternoon, 31 March, demonstrating the state of readiness of integrated law enforcement agencies. Western Cape… pic.twitter.com/C9DJc7lQ1x
— Smile90.4 FM (@Smile904FM) March 31, 2026

Elsies River community activist, Imraahn Mukkadam, said residents were hopeful the intervention would restore calm following a surge in deadly shootings.

“We have seen very violent past two weeks where a number of young people have lost their lives in gang violence. And we would hope that the presence of the South African National Defense will bring calm and stability to our area,” he said.

However, Mukkadam raised concerns about the effectiveness of the deployment, noting that violence had continued despite the army’s presence. He noted that shortly after soldiers moved through Clarke’s Estate on Wednesday morning, shooting continued.

“So clearly gangs do not see the presence of the South African National Defence force as a deterrent at the moment.”

He added that authorities needed to intensify operations through “checkpoints”, “search and seizures”, and “targeted operations” to remove illegal firearms from the streets.

“We need to see an active presence, not just driving through our areas, but really we need to see some roadblocks. We need to see some search and seizures. And we need to see areas where known gangsters are present to be cordoned off and searched. And all the guns in those areas must be retrieved and removed from our street.”

Meanwhile, #GangsterismMustFall spokesperson Roscoe Jacobs described the deployment as a welcome relief for residents living in fear but reiterated the sentiment that that alone is not enough to resolve the crisis.

“If we are serious about ending gangsterism, we must address the socio-economic conditions that drive it. Poverty, unemployment, inequality and lack of opportunities for young people continue to push many into gangs. Without tackling these root causes, we are simply managing the symptom, not solving the problem,” Jacobs said.

Cape Flats Safety Forum chairperson Abie Isaacs echoed support for the initiative, describing it as a “force multiplier” for police, while urging communities to assist law enforcement with information to combat crime more effectively.

“We will be monitoring the crime stats over the next two quarters,” said Isaacs.