South African army arrive in crime hotspots to help tackle gangs

The army has been deployed to five of South Africa's nine provinces for a year-long operation.

Over 2,200 soldiers are set to deploy to crime hotspots nationwide, including Gauteng, the Western Cape, and Eastern Cape, to tackle gang violence and illegal mining, with troops expected on the streets from Wednesday.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has dismissed concerns about its soldiers operating among civilians as it prepares to deploy more than 2,000 troops to crime hotspots across five provinces from Wednesday.

Western Cape crime-fighting structures have welcomed the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to the province’s most volatile crime hotspots, with soldiers set to assist police in tackling gang violence and organised crime.

South African National Defence Force (SANDF) troops are set to begin operations in the Western Cape to combat gang and drug-related violence, with the Western Cape Police Commissioner urging community support for law enforcement efforts.

SANDF troops have joined the SAPS-led operation in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, marking the start of a year-long deployment to crime hotspots in the Western Cape, with the provincial government warning that the army's presence is not a long-term solution.

Residents in Mitchells Plain have expressed mixed feelings about the deployment of the SANDF to the area, with some welcoming the intervention and others expressing concerns over the army's presence and its effectiveness in addressing gang violence.

Over 2,200 SANDF soldiers have been deployed to patrol crime-ridden areas in the Western Cape, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Free State, and North West, as part of Operation Prosper, which will run until March 2027.

The City of Cape Town Law Enforcement acting Commissioner has stated readiness to support the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in tackling violent crime in identified hotspots across the metro.