South African troops have deployed to gang-ridden townships in Cape Town, as fresh violence claimed two lives nearly 50 days after the government ordered military support.
Soldiers in full combat gear rolled into areas including Mitchells Plain in armoured vehicles, reinforcing police efforts to curb escalating gang activity in the Cape Flats.
The deployment comes as two men, aged 25 and 33, were shot dead in an early morning attack in nearby Hanover Park. In a separate incident hours earlier, a 27-year old man was wounded in Mitchells Plain.
Residents say the violence remains relentless. “I am afraid for my children,” said a 65-year-old grandmother, who fears her home is being used by gangs for surveillance. “All night, I don’t sleep.”
Another resident, 69-year-old Malvin Gordan, said shootings occur at all hours, including when children are commuting to school. Still, he described the arrival of soldiers as a deterrent, noting that their “presence alone” has forced gang members to retreat.
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The Cape Flats has long been a hotspot for violent crime, with turf wars between rival gangs fuelling frequent killings. In August last year, the area recorded one of its deadliest weeks, with 59 murders in just seven days.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the military deployment in February, citing crime as one of the country’s most pressing challenges. South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates globally outside active war zones, averaging around 60 killings per day.
The operation, codenamed “Operation Prosper,” will run for a year and spans five provinces, including Gauteng, home to Johannesburg. More than 2,200 soldiers have been mobilised to support police in tackling violent crime and illegal mining.
The country has repeatedly turned to the military during periods of unrest, including enforcing COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020 and responding to the 2021 riots following the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma.
Troops were also deployed in 2019 to assist police in the Cape Flats, underscoring the persistent challenge of gang violence in the region.
AFRICA NEWS