Cape Town - Cape Flats community activists
say that nothing much has changed after four months of Operation
Lockdown, and they fear the situation will go back to normal once the deployment of
SANDF support for the SAPS in the province ends in March next year.
Philippi community activist Xolisa Pukayi said: “The situation just changed a little bit, but there are still a lot of crime happening there. Shootings and robberies continue.
“We’re very concerned because there is no permanent solution. If the army go back (to barracks), and as they are not permanent in the area, they will go next year. So what will happen next?”
Fadiel Adams, from Gatvol Capetonians, said: “Operation Lockdown
has had an impact, but it’s been
minimal. For the outlay, it’s been minimal.
“What I can tell you is that as soon as this operation is over, normal service will resume. It’s a fact and the officials know it.”
Premier Alan Winde said that
while there had been some stabilisation in the murder numbers in the metro, “it is not clear whether this
is directly related to the SANDF’s deployment, or a combination of a number of other safety interventions currently taking place on the
Cape Flats and elsewhere in the province”.
The premier said: “Operation Lockdown is an SAPS operation, in combination with the military and the province is not privy to any of the operational information.
“We however welcome all efforts that contribute towards a decrease in violence in our communities, and in our preliminary view, Operation Lockdown does appear to be a part of the solution.”
Community Safety MEC Albert Fritz said: “It is important to note
that while Operation Lockdown has been deployed, there have further been a number of accompanying programmes and campaigns with
the aim of reducing murder and violence which are so prevalent in our society.
“Among these is the deployment of additional law enforcement
officers in Delft and Bonteheuwel as
a part of neighbourhood safety
teams.”
Operation Lockdown was established four months ago to curb serious violent crimes plaguing the Cape Flats and other townships in the Cape Metropole.
The operation has seen members of the SANDF lending support to the SA Police Service.
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