The troops are finally here!
A week after the announcement by Police Minister Bheki Cele that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) would be deployed to curb gang violence on the Cape Flats, heavily armed soldiers hit the streets on Thursday.
Manenberg and Hanover Park buzzed with excitement and residents went mal as trucks filled with rifle-carrying soldiers moved into the areas shortly before 3pm.
The Daily Voice counted about eight armoured vehicles and 40 troops, and many more SAPS officers in the area.
Ward councillor Aslam Cassiem says the first sightings of the troops in one of the most violent hotspots in Manenberg caused quite a stir.
“We saw them coming in Elbe Street and they went to a well-known pella pos and started searching people; everyone came out to see what is going on,” he said.
Minutes later, troops blocked off major entry and exit points of the gang-ridden suburb and started searching all vehicles entering and leaving the area.
Troops blocked off major entry and exit points and searched all vehicles entering and leaving. Picture: Monique Duval
Some taxi drivers travelling along Manenberg Avenue got a skrik when their rush hour trips came to a grinding halt as soldiers, accompanied by police, checked for drivers licences and any contraband in the vehicles.
Curious children ran to the stern-faced soldiers who guarded each roadblock as police and traffic cops searched cars.
Loud screams were heard in Renoster Road as a truck diverted off Manenberg Avenue and a group of men were seen running away.
“Die army is hier, ooh jitte, die mense gaan k@k,” a woman was heard shouting.
Mom Esmerelda Lombard, 38, says she was busy cooking when her son ran in to tell her the news and she dropped everything to go see the troops.
“Ek het alles gelos waarmee ek besig was om te gaan kyk. Die army is ’n goeie ding vir Manenberg met al die gang fights,” she says.
Esmerelda Lombar dropped everything to go see the troops. Picture: Monique Duval
Shortly after 4pm, the troops descended on Hanover Park where cops did random stops and searches.
“Yoh, they skut the Ghettos, the Americans, sommer almal,” said Ali Sablay, of Gift of the Givers, who hosted a community event on an open field in the area.
Two weeks ago, Cele promised residents of Philippi East that “proper interventions” would be made to address the spate of killings following the murders of 13 people in the area.
Last weekend, the Western Cape recorded 43 murders, of which 25 victims were shot, and 12 were stabbed.
Cele identified 10 key areas where army deployment could help police, including Manenberg, Bishop Lavis, Mitchells Plain, Nyanga and Delft.
SANDF soldiers parade through Manenberg streets. Pictures: Monique Duval
On Wednesday, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said the army arrived last Friday already, but deployment was delayed to give mense the element of surprise.
She said the army is here to assist SAPS and all operations would be intelligence-driven.
Since soldiers are not trained in crowd control, she hoped that criminals would not provoke them.
“I really pray that there should be no such a situation... We do not expect the use of excessive force,” the minister added.