Gun violence continues to grip several Cape Flats communities, despite the deployment of soldiers under Operation Prosper.
Police have confirmed that two men, aged 25 and 33, were shot and killed in Hanover Park on the morning of 1 April. The victims were inside an informal dwelling on Turfburg Walk when gunmen opened fire. One man died at the scene, while the second succumbed to his injuries after being transported to the hospital.
Community activist Kashiefa Mohammed told Smile FM she believes the attack may be gang-related, although police have not yet established a motive. No arrests have been made.
In a separate incident, a 19-year-old man was shot and killed in Coniston Park in the early hours of Thursday morning, 2 April. Officers responding to the scene shortly after 03:30 found the victim with a gunshot wound to the head on Lucerne Crescent.
The suspects fled, and the motive remains unclear. Muizenberg is among the areas earmarked for military deployment.
Residents across the Cape Flats reported further incidents of suspected gang violence overnight. Verified reports point to shootings in areas including Manenberg, Tafelsig, Lentegeur, Heideveld, Ottery, Delft South, and Wallacedene.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been deployed to 17 identified hotspots across Cape Town as part of Operation Prosper. However, only a portion of the 547 soldiers earmarked for the operation are currently on the ground, with additional deployments expected after the Easter long weekend.
According to reports, areas including Nyanga, Philippi, Gugulethu, Kraaifontein, Khayelitsha, Harare, Manenberg, Elsies River, Ravensmead, Muizenberg and Steenberg are set to receive around 28 soldiers each.
Meanwhile, Mitchells Plain, Mfuleni, Bishop Lavis and Delft are expected to have a stronger presence of about 40 soldiers per area.
Community leaders have welcomed the intervention but remain cautious. Activist Imraahn Mukkadam has called for more decisive action from deployed forces, while Yaseen Johaar warned that lasting change will depend on addressing deeper socio-economic challenges.
Johaar said issues such as unemployment, high school dropout rates and poverty must be tackled urgently, arguing that increased security alone will not curb the cycle of violence.
Concerns have also been raised about the psychological impact on residents, especially children, who must live under a heightened military presence in their neighbourhoods.
READ: Army is not a permanent solution as SANDF make their way through Cape Flats
