Deputy President Paul Mashatile's recent visit to Mitchells Plain has sparked outrage among residents, who label Operation Prosper a failure as gang-related violence continues to plague their community
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
Deputy President Paul Mashatile did little to ease the anger of residents in Mitchells Plain, who criticised Operation Prosper as a failure amid continuing gang-related killings.
Mashatile conducted a walkabout in Tafelsig yesterday alongside SAPS top brass and deputy ministers, following police-led inspection operations escorted by a phalanx of SANDF soldiers.
The visit followed a closed-door briefing with Minister in the Presidency for Women Sindisiwe Chikunga, Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel and Deputy Minister of Social Development Ganief Hendricks.
Resident Lelani Baardman described Olifantshoek Street, where Mashatile began his walkabout, as a “dead zone”.
“This road is where the bodies lie. I am tired of Parliament, and I am tired of whoever says they want to help. They do not come here to help, but for fame and fortune. We are tired of all that nonsense. Our children die in this street,” she said.
“If I am being emotional, I don’t care, because I am a mother. They sugarcoat everything while children are being killed every day.”
Baardman also criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa after he told Parliament last week that he did not know the full extent of the killings on the Cape Flats.
“Since the army was deployed, we have seen them here only once or twice at most. How can [the president] say he never knew the situation was that bad? Tafelsig is in the news every day — that is how bad it is. It just shows they do not care about our community,” she said.
Another resident, Wilda Michaels, said the community had lost confidence in the police.
“The police are the ones working with the gangsters. They tell us to work with the police, but we cannot because they put our lives in danger,” she said.
“There was a house in my street where they found a lot of guns. What happened to that case? Nothing. So what is the point of us reporting drugs, guns and gangsters?”
After meeting families who had lost members to gun violence, Mashatile said communities would have to work hand in hand with police to tackle crime.
“We are now going into areas where police and the army are operating because without the community, we will not be able to succeed. So they are working with the community so we can identify the criminals and apprehend them.”
The latest crime statistics showed an 8% decline in murders in the Western Cape, although 983 people were still killed between January and March.
Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile said violent crime had decreased in 11 of the 17 police stations identified as priority areas, while one had stabilised.
“There are five stations we must still focus on because they have shown increases. Remember, we have 31 stations classified as gang stations, in addition to murder stations in African townships. But these 17 are the ones contributing 70% of all violent crime,” he said.
Patekile urged communities to make use of tip-off lines to help combat extortion and gang violence, which he said had contributed to mass killings.
Last week, a mass shooting in Wesbank, Blue Downs, left four people dead and a seven-year-old child injured.
“The communities in these areas need to do more. We appreciate what neighbourhood watches and CPFs are doing, but more can still be done,” he said.
“You’ve got gangs operating here, extortionists there, taxi-related violence elsewhere, and hitmen linked to different disputes that we have uncovered.”
“Some are linked to family feuds and deceased estates; others to extortion killings. The taxi industry also remains a problem, and those are the issues we are focusing on.”
He referred to Operation Tsitsikama, in which several people linked to the taxi industry were arrested across different provinces.
“That was phase one. We have spoken to the leaders; now we are going after those carrying out the shootings. The final phase will focus on government institutions that have enabled these organisations to prosper,” he said.
Patekile said phase two of Operation Prosper would focus on identifying specific targets.
“As we stabilise these areas, we are gathering more intelligence to focus on the leaders and hotspots. By the time the SANDF leaves next year, hopefully local policing will have normalised the situation.”
Acting national police commissioner Puleng Dimpane said authorities were encouraged by progress made so far.
“There are green shoots we have seen. We have received reports and are happy with the progress. We will return for every phase to ensure the work is being done,” she said.