SANDF numbers 'sufficient' for Western Cape deployment - Damoyi
The streets of the Cape Flats are seeing a heightened law enforcement presence as Operation Prosper rolls out to combat gang violence and other serious crimes in communities like Mitchells Plain, Manenberg, Philippi, and Hannover Park.
Deputy National Commissioner for Policing in the Western Cape, Major General Luyanda Damoyi, addressed the media on Wednesday, emphasizing the deployment of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF), alongside members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to tackle gangsterism and extortion.
While he assured residents that the forces on the ground are fully trained to achieve their mission, he declined to disclose the exact number of soldiers deployed to the province, citing operational reasons.
“We are not going to disclose how many that are here, how many we're supposed to have but what we can say safely, they are sufficient to achieve our mission.”
Damoyi reiterated that the operation is designed to be strategically targeted, with forces deployed seven days a week according to crime patterns.
“They will be on the ground for seven days a week. It might be a break here and there because we look at our crime pattern, where our problematic crimes are, which areas. So, we deploy as such because we do not serve people just to put them around the clock when it's not a critical period.”
The mission is scheduled to run until March 31 next year, according to the plan presented to Parliament's policing committees.
The operation is currently focused on hotspot provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Northwest and Western Cape, with flexibility to expand based on intelligence assessments, with more 500 soldiers reportedly deployed in Gauteng.
Despite some recent shootings, including incidents in Hannover Park and Lavender Hill, the Deputy Commissioner reassured residents that the Cape Flats will be safe during critical periods, including the Easter holidays.
He urged communities to act responsibly, highlighting the importance of safe celebrations and cooperation with police.
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