South Africa Deploys Military to Crime-Hit Cape Town Townships
Last update: April 1, 2026
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Military presence expands as fresh shootings highlight ongoing insecurity in Cape Flats communities.
South African soldiers moved into gang-affected townships in Cape Town on Wednesday, as two people were killed in new outbreaks of violence nearly 50 days after the president ordered their deployment.
Troops in full combat gear, carrying assault rifles, arrived in armoured vehicles in Mitchells Plain, part of the crime-hit Cape Flats area.
The latest violence saw two men, aged 25 and 33, shot dead in Hanover Park early in the morning. In a separate incident, a 27-year-old man was wounded in Mitchells Plain shortly before.
Residents described living in constant fear, with shootings occurring at all hours, including when children travel to and from school. Some said the military presence offered reassurance, with troops helping to deter gang activity.
The Cape Flats has long been plagued by gang turf wars and retaliatory attacks. The area recorded one of its deadliest weeks last August, with 59 murders in seven days.
The deployment follows an order by President Cyril Ramaphosa to reinforce the police as the country battles one of the world’s highest homicide rates, averaging around 60 killings daily.
The operation, known as Operation Prosper, will run for a year and involve more than 2,200 soldiers deployed across five provinces to support policing and combat crime, including illegal mining.
CBI News reports that South Africa has previously used military support during periods of crisis, including during Covid 19 lockdowns, unrest in 2021 and other outbreaks of violence.
