Murat Ozgur Guvendik

Date: 09 Avril 2026

Updated: 09 Avril 2026

AA/Le Cap

The South African army officially launched a major operation on Thursday to combat crime in the most dangerous neighborhoods of Cape Town, where 2,200 soldiers will be deployed for a year to support the police against gang violence.

Called “Operation Prosperity”, this intervention was ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address one of the country’s most serious security crises.

The troops entered the townships of Cape Flats, densely populated areas plagued by organized crime.

A joint military parade with the South African Police Service (SAPS) marked the official start of the operation in the country’s legislative capital.

The soldiers will provide increased presence, mixed patrols, road checks, and targeted interventions in high-risk areas, including Mitchells Plain, a major hub for gang activity.

The townships of Cape Town, a legacy of apartheid, are home to a large part of the poor population and are the center of bloody wars between criminal gangs such as the “Numbers Gang”, “Americans,” “Hard Livings,” or “Fancy Boys” who vie for control of drug and extortion trafficking.

In 2025, South Africa recorded 23,672 murders, an average of 65 assassinations per day. More than 132,000 thefts, 53,000 sexual assaults, and 34,000 carjackings were also reported in the year.

The South African Parliament approved a budget of 823 million rand (49 million dollars) to finance this exceptional operation.

The residents of the townships, exhausted by daily violence, largely welcomed the deployment of the military, stating that they finally feel safer.