President Cyril Ramaphosa says Operation Prosper is showing operational results on the Cape Flats, with violent crime and murders declining in 14 of the 17 most affected police precincts.
Ramaphosa made the remarks in response to a parliamentary question from uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP Zibuse Cele, who questioned whether the joint deployment of the SANDF and SAPS had meaningfully reduced killings.
The president acknowledged that violent crime remained unacceptably high, but said the intervention had helped stabilise several priority areas.
Crime falls in most priority precincts
Ramaphosa said the deployment was being assessed using indicators such as arrests and the recovery of illegal firearms, ammunition and illicit drugs.
He attributed continued gang violence to entrenched criminal networks, retaliatory attacks, illegal firearms and deep socio-economic problems.
A longer-term assessment of Operation Prosper is also under way, he said, with the findings expected to guide future changes to the strategy.
The SANDF is currently deployed in support of SAPS operations on the Cape Flats.
Next phase targets gang leaders
Ramaphosa said the first phase of Operation Prosper focused on stabilising communities and disrupting criminal activity.
The next phase will shift attention towards senior gang leaders and the organisational structures behind gangs and organised crime groups.
He said the aim was to move beyond disrupting individual crimes and begin dismantling the networks driving violence.
Security agencies are coordinating through the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, which allows for shared intelligence, joint planning and integrated deployments.
Ramaphosa said deployments are also being adjusted according to changing crime patterns.
Analyst questions impact
Independent political analyst Goodenough Mashego said the success of Operation Prosper should not be judged mainly on the SANDF’s role.
He argued that SAPS units, including crime intelligence and the anti-gang unit, should be central to measuring whether the intervention is working.
Mashego described soldiers as “force multipliers” whose role is to support police rather than lead crime-fighting operations.
He said the real test would be whether authorities can identify, arrest and prosecute those directing and benefiting from organised criminal networks.
According to Mashego, stronger intelligence and successful prosecutions will be essential if authorities want to dismantle the structures behind gangsterism.