Operation Prosper, involving SANDF support to police in the Western Cape, is drawing criticism as killings linked to gang violence continue, despite the deployment. In recent weekend incidents, 30 people are reported killed, including cases described as mass shootings.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, says the operation is “not prospering,” arguing that violence and shootings persist rather than decline. The criticism focuses on whether the military-backed crackdown is achieving measurable results on the ground.
Across outlets, the common thread is the ongoing scale of violence in the province and questions about the effectiveness of Operation Prosper. Reporting centres on official concerns raised within Parliament and the contrast between the stated goal of reducing gang activity and the reported toll of deaths in the same period. No single outlet’s account is used to contradict the reported weekend death figure, but the emphasis remains on accountability and outcomes for the deployment.
