The SANDF deployed to the Cape Flats have yielded no success.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
The streets of the Cape Flats continue to bleed daily despite the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The soldiers, who were deployed in an attempt to bring stability to the province as gang violence had reached boiling points, were deployed on April 1, as part of Operation Prosper.
However, their deployment has meant nothing to the people on the Cape Flats, as people continue to die daily in separate incidents with no soldiers in sight.
The SANDF was not only deployed to the Western Cape but also to other provinces to focus on specific threats:
- Western Cape – gangsterism and violent crime
- Eastern Cape – gang violence
- Gauteng – illegal mining activities
- North West – illegal mining operations
- Free State – illicit mining activities
Members of the SANDF were deployed in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, to assist the police in tackling crime in the area. But gunshots continue to ring out in the area.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
It has been revealed that R823 million has been set aside for the deployment of the military.
However, many residents in Cape Town feel these are a waste of taxpayers’ money as there has been no change in the violence on the Cape Flats.
This week, gunshots have been ringing in almost all areas across the Cape Flats.
Elsies River, Manenberg, Hanover Park, Lavender Hill, Steenberg, Mitchells Plain, and Lotus River are but a few of the hot spots.
On Thursday, a six-year-old girl was struck in her head with a bullet after she was caught in the crossfire of rival gangs in Valhalla Park.
Police confirmed the shooting was gang-related.
The SANDF has been called out for lack of action during their deployment.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
On Tuesday afternoon, eight people were shot in Mitchells Plain in separate incidents.
In the first incident, seven people were shot just before 3 pm at the Hazeldene taxi rank.
Of the people shot, two men died, and three children, a six-year-old girl and two boys aged 12 and 13, were among the injured who were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Speaking to IOL, a community activist from Hanover Park, Yaseen Johaar, said the deployment of the army will not bring any solution to the scourge of gangsterism.
“The deployment is a waste of money. The process to get the SANDF deployed is costly in itself, and on top of that, you have the actual cost per member. You also have medical staff and associated costs per person,” Johaar said.
Mitchells Plain was rocked by a mass shooting on Tuesday, April 7, when seven people were shot, including three children, with no SANDF soldiers in sight.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/ Independent Newspapers
He even offered a cheaper alternative for communities.
“Having armed security guards stationed in each community would work out cheaper, even if increased to three times more personnel than the SANDF deployment. It would still cost less, provided the deployment is not just a drive-through and no temporary base is set up in each community. Gangsters will not be concerned by a drive-through. People are desperate for peace and safety, which is a basic human right. The community is sick and tired of living under these conditions while being expected to live normal lives,” Johaar said.
Many people further told IOL that the deployment of the SANDF seemed to be a ‘publicity stunt’.
“What are they actually doing? They drive around in areas but never in the areas when the actual shooting is happening. They are not going to drug dens or arresting gangsters. They’re driving out their petrol or diesel and standing around so the media can take pictures and children can do TikToks,” a resident from Elsies River said.
A Heideveld community worker, Vanessa Nelson, said initially she was one of the people calling for the military deployment.
“My impression of the army in our area should show some sort of stability; however, they seem to just be driving through areas with no intent of combat or plan of action to deal with the aspect of gangsterism and drug dens. Through SAPS, they should be aware of houses, names, and where things are happening,” Nelson said.
She believed that the SANDF had no action plan in place to assert its dominance.
“We thought this would make a difference. As we all know, they are in our areas, but look at the shooting in Mitchells Plain. They are here, but what is the intent? They have not changed the cries of our communities wanting to be safe. For now, as it stands, it was a waste being deployed to our areas. It yielded little or no results,” Nelson explained.
She said as a concerned resident, she does not believe the SANDF has any plan of action.
“They did not engage with neighbourhood watches or community policing forums (CPF). They’ve not engaged with people on the ground. Not SANDF but policing. They came in, but they’re driving around. We didn’t ask theme to come in and drive around. We asked them to come be on the ground, be vigilant, but also go to where it is needed and necessary. But they are not doing that. They’re getting paid, being deployed, but they’re doing nothing. Yet, the gang violence continues unabated, and there seems to be no end in sight. We thought they would make a difference. It’s a senseless exercise,” Nelson added.
The SANDF has not yet been deployed to the Lavender Hill/Retreat/ Steenberg areas yet.
The Steenberg CPF chairperson, Nicola Small, said the deployment of soldiers to the area would be welcomed.
“I welcome all efforts to bolster resources and aid the SAPS in the fight against crime and gangsterism. They haven't been deployed to Steenberg yet, so only time will tell. I think that the community would welcome the army if they are effective in their joint operations with the SAPS,” Small said.
IOL