Children watch an SANDF soldier patrolling the streets of Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, on the first day of Operation Prosper.

• Operation Prosper has yet again come under fire, this time by Western Cape Premier Alan Winde.
• Winde engaged Western Cape police commissioner Thembisile Patekile on the ongoing violence despite the army’s deployment.
• Patekile noted that there are “initial teething challenges” with Operation Prosper.

The Western Cape Provincial Safety Council has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of Operation Prosper, with Premier Alan Winde warning that communities remain “under siege” despite ongoing deployments.

This comes amid continued gang violence in various parts of Cape Town since the deployment of the army on 1 April.

News24 previously reported that there were 50 murders and 35 attempted murders recorded in just under a week. The figures were confirmed by the Western Cape police and Parliament’s portfolio committee on police chairperson, Ian Cameron.

Areas where bloodshed continues unabated include Mitchells Plain, Bonteheuwel, Valhalla Park, Delft, Elsies River and Hanover Park.

During a council meeting earlier this week, Winde brought the concerns of thousands of residents directly to the provincial commissioner, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, and his management team.

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“Too many communities are still under siege – enough is enough! Deployments alone are inadequate,” said Winde. “We need consistent, detailed reporting to show whether this intervention is making a real impact.”

Winde said this reporting should inform immediate operational adjustments.

“This operation must not repeat the shortcomings of 2019. It must be intelligence-driven, coordinated, and focused on dismantling criminal networks, especially gangs,” said Winde.

The Provincial Safety Council comprises multiple stakeholders, including the police, municipalities and academic organisations. It provides strategic leadership and oversight of safety and crime-prevention efforts while promoting evidence-based decision-making and innovation.

During the meeting, the police delegation told the council that Operation Prosper includes the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement.

Winde noted that while this cooperation is encouraging, there must be an increased focus on proactive intelligence-gathering and investigations involving multiple stakeholders, led from the front by police.

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The council further noted that gangsterism, organised crime and illegal firearms continue to drive the province’s murder rate, underscoring the urgency of a more effective and coordinated response.

In a City of Cape Town presentation, serious concerns were raised about the low rate of successful prosecutions for firearm-related offences.

The Western Cape government said it is now calling for urgent, structural improvements, including adequate resourcing of police in the province, thorough and professional investigations, court-ready and evidence-based case building, and higher prosecution success rates.

Council members also called for the police to establish a dedicated task force focusing specifically on crimes involving illegal firearms – a move supported by the provincial government.

In terms of illegal firearm cases, the council emphasised that improved efficiency across investigation, forensic and prosecution processes would likely lead to more successful prosecutions, and that SAPS needs to act on this request.

“We are committed to helping and working with SAPS,” Winde said.

Winde said:

Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, also engaged with Patekile and his management team to obtain further details on the approach underpinning Operation Prosper.

Marais last week confirmed to News24 that she was informed that 400 soldiers are already in the province.

During her engagement with police, Marais expressed concern over the continued spike in violence and killings since the start of the month, especially in areas where soldiers have been deployed.

She stressed the critical need for actionable intelligence and a coordinated operational plan that goes beyond visibility, with a focus on confiscating illegal firearms and dismantling gang networks.

Patekile acknowledged “initial teething challenges” with Operation Prosper, indicating that these are being addressed.

Police have been approached for comment, and it will be added once received.