Deputy President Paul Mashatile said Operation Prosper is being intensified in the Western Cape, with SAPS and SANDF coordination aimed at reducing gang violence and stabilising high-risk communities.
Image: SA Government X Account
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says Operation Prosper has led to 672 arrests in the Western Cape as government intensifies efforts to combat gang violence and strengthen policing interventions in high-risk communities.
Mashatile was responding to oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday, where MPs questioned government’s progress in addressing gang-related violence in the Western Cape, as well as challenges linked to witness protection, prosecution outcomes, and policing capacity.
He told the House that Operation Prosper, which is being implemented in the Cape Flats and surrounding areas, had recorded 672 arrests since April this year. He said murders had been reduced in 11 police station areas, while drug recoveries had increased in 12 stations.
Mashatile said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to stabilise communities affected by gang violence and strengthen coordination between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
He said he had visited the Cape Flats on May 27, including Mitchells Plain, following concerns raised in Parliament about continued killings in the area despite the deployment of the operation.
Mashatile said the visit formed part of a commitment he made during a previous parliamentary engagement
He said the delegation was informed that the operation involved coordination between SAPS and the SANDF, and that efforts were ongoing to stabilise high-risk communities affected by gang violence.
Mashatile said he also met affected families and community members during the visit and that government, together with law enforcement leadership, would continue monitoring progress and providing psychosocial support to victims of gang-related violence.
He added that SAPS was developing a monitoring system to assess the impact of Operation Prosper, including in provinces affected by illegal mining, while intensified operations were continuing in areas such as Gugulethu, Manenberg, and Khayelitsha.
During the sitting, MPs raised concerns about low conviction rates in gang-related cases and the impact of weak investigation and prosecution outcomes on crime levels in affected communities.
It was also raised that witnesses were often unwilling to testify due to safety fears, undermining the success of prosecutions.
Mashatile agreed that weaknesses in prosecution outcomes and witness cooperation were a major challenge in the fight against crime. He said government was now focusing on strengthening witness protection and improving court safety to address these gaps.
He said the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development was leading work on strengthening whistleblower and witness protection systems, including legislation aimed at improving protections for those who come forward with information.
Mashatile said the proposed framework would ensure that the Minister is able to secure resources to strengthen witness protection capacity, adding that fear of retaliation remained one of the biggest obstacles in securing convictions in gang-related cases.
He also addressed concerns over court safety following incidents of violence in court precincts, saying government was looking at improved access control measures, including the possible use of scanners at entry points to detect weapons and prevent criminal activity within court environments.
Mashatile said these interventions were aimed at ensuring that courts are safe spaces where justice processes can take place without intimidation or violence.
MPs also questioned whether operational capacity within SAPS, particularly canine units, was sufficient to support anti-gang operations in the Western Cape. Concerns were raised about procurement constraints affecting the acquisition of police dogs.
Mashatile rejected claims that procurement policy prevented SAPS from acquiring necessary resources, saying there was no policy that should block the police from obtaining operational equipment.
He said SAPS must be able to procure what is needed for effective policing and added that he would follow up on the matter after concerns were raised during the sitting.
“If indeed they need more dogs, they should buy them. There is no BEE policy that can prevent you from doing that,” Mashatile said.
He added that police must be supported to carry out their work effectively and that any procurement challenges raised would be investigated and resolved.
Mashatile further told MPs that government supports the expansion and establishment of specialised policing units where necessary, including in high-risk areas such as the Cape Flats.
He said decisions on expanding capacity, including anti-gang units and other specialised formations, would be guided by operational need and available resources within SAPS.
Mashatile said government would continue engaging with provincial police leadership to assess capacity requirements and strengthen interventions aimed at stabilising communities affected by gang violence.
He added that visible policing alone was not sufficient and that broader tactical and investigative capacity was required to address organised crime, extortion, and gang-related activity.
Mashatile said Operation Prosper and related interventions would continue to be strengthened to restore safety and stability in affected communities.
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