Residents welcome SANDF deployment as Operation Prosper targets Gauteng crime hotspots

Residents in Eldorado Park and Westbury have welcomed the deployment of soldiers into their communities, saying the increased security presence offers renewed hope in areas long plagued by violent crime and gang activity.

Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) were deployed to several parts of Gauteng on Wednesday as part of Operation Prosper – a crime-fighting intervention ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa to support police operations.

Hundreds of soldiers are now on the ground in parts of Johannesburg South, tasked with helping stabilise communities impacted by gang violence, illegal firearms and illicit mining.

Ramaphosa confirmed that about 550 soldiers have been deployed to the province to assist law enforcement in tackling escalating crime levels.

Residents in Eldorado Park say the move is a step in the right direction and believe the deployment could help restore a sense of safety.

The military presence was also evident in Westbury, where residents gathered in the streets to welcome armoured vehicles as SANDF members began assessing crime hotspots.

Chants and cheers rang out as patrols got underway in neighbourhoods long plagued by gang violence, drug trafficking and frequent shootings.

One concerned father, who had just collected his daughter from school due to safety fears, said children in the area have previously been caught in the crossfire.

Authorities have stressed that the SANDF’s role is to support police rather than replace them.

Police spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe, says the South African Police Service (SAPS) will continue to lead operations on the ground.

Officials say the intervention forms part of a broader national response targeting gang-related shootings, illegal firearms, drug trafficking and networks linked to illicit mining.

Beyong Gauteng, soldiers have also been deployed to the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, North West and the Free State as part of the coordinated response to violent crime.

Government has allocated more than R80 million for the Gauteng operation, which is expected to run from 30 January until 30 April 2026 as authorities attempt to stabilise some of the country’s most crime-affected communities.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe