South Africa is launching a renewed, large-scale security intervention in the Western Cape, as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) joins the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat escalating crime on the Cape Flats

The National Briefing · Apr 1, 2026 · 5m

South Africa is launching a renewed, large-scale security intervention in the Western Cape, as the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) joins the South African Police Service (SAPS) to combat escalating crime on the Cape Flats. The deployment, under Operation Prosper, reflects growing urgency to address gang violence, illegal firearms, and organised crime in some of the country’s most affected communities.