By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced this week that Operation Prosper is beginning to show significant results in Cape Flats, regarding a decrease in crime and violence in 14 of the 17 highly affected precincts, however gang violence is still present. 

Ramaphosa had addressed parliament when he was questioned by a uMkhonto weSizwe MP, Zibuse Cele, seeking an explanation as to why the deployment of the South African Defence Force (SANDF) in tandem with the South African Police Service (SAPS) have been failing to achieve significant reduction to the murders occurring in the Cape Flats.

 Cele also questioned the President regarding what due process had been conducted regarding this intervention and what measures have been set in place which could further decrease the high levels of crime and violence that occurs in the neighbourhood and to ensure the safety of community members from this violence.

Operation Prosper has suffered continuous scrutiny regarding whether or not the interventions are causing any reductions in violence in the Cape Flats. The President did however acknowledge that the violence still continues to be at a high rate even though the operation had created a sense of stability in highly affected areas.

 “These levels of violent crime in the affected communities remain unacceptably high…However the deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to support the South African Police Services (SAPS) is showing some operational results,” said Ramaphosa. 

The President also expressed that these gang-related crimes are associated with socio-economic circumstances, and the availability of illegal firearms. Ramaphosa stated that the intervention was being assessed by conducting arrests and confiscating illegal firearms, ammunition and narcotics. 

“I am advised that a comprehensive, in-depth assessment of the longer term impact of the intervention is being undertaken to inform the continued refinement of the approach,” said Ramaphosa.

He also stated that the operation had just come out of the first phase of the strategy which had focused on stabilising the affected communities, and are now prepared to enter into their second phase which is to target senior gang members and leaders, as well as their organisational structures and gang groups.

 “The next phase is specifically aimed at targeting the senior leaders and organisational structures of gangs and organised crime groups, to move beyond disruption towards the dismantling of the networks driving violence in these communities,” said Ramaphosa.