Ruptly
"South African troops officially took positions at crime hotspots in Cape Town on Wednesday, to assist police in fighting gangs as part of President Cyril Ramaphosa's strategy to restore law and order. Dubbed 'Operation Prosper', the joint mission joint operation between the South African National Defence Force and the South African Police Service is aimed at improving security in some of the city’s most dangerous neighbourhoods. Footage shows military vehicles arriving in the city as forces provide armed support to police during raids. “We are going to be deploying in all areas in Mitchells Plain and other hotspots around the Cape Flats like Manenberg, Philippi, and Nyanga Park," explained Luyanda Damoyi, Western Cape Deputy Police Commissioner. Mitchells Plain is one of South Africa’s largest townships. Tafelsig, in the south-east, has long been plagued by gang violence, drug trafficking, and extortion, and is among the priority areas. Authorities say the deployment is intended to stabilise communities where policing alone has struggled to contain escalating violence. He added that police had been working in close coordination with local communities to gather more information about these criminal gangs. Ramaphosa had earlier this year announced the deployment of 2,200 soldiers to five of the country’s nine provinces hardest hit by criminal activity. The operation includes joint patrols, stop-and-search actions, and high-visibility deployments designed to deter crime and reassure residents. Some community activists and civil society groups have warned that military deployments may provide only short-term relief if not accompanied by deeper policing reforms and interventions."
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