The South African National Defence Union (SANDU) has announced it is prepared to take legal action over what it describes as “scandalous” and “inhumane” living conditions faced by nearly 150 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members deployed under Operation Prosper at Fort iKapa military base in Cape Town.
Jeff Dubazana, SANDU’s Chief Negotiator, detailed severe shortcomings in the accommodation provided to soldiers tasked with supporting police efforts to combat entrenched gang violence in the region. According to Dubazana, approximately 146 personnel are housed in a single aircraft hangar with a leaking roof, non-functional ventilation systems, and only three toilets—one of which is reportedly unusable.
“The conditions are a serious scandal and reflect a lack of accountability by military leadership,” Dubazana stated. He emphasized that basic essentials such as cleaning materials and toilet paper are not being supplied, and that food provisions are inadequate and served in containers, raising concerns about quality and temperature—particularly during the Western Cape’s cold, wet winter months.
Dubazana noted that soldiers have resorted to using tents inside the hangar to shield themselves from the elements, a measure he described as unacceptable for personnel deployed on domestic operations. He further revealed that at least eight members have already fallen ill since the deployment began, citing both physical and psychological tolls.
The union has issued a demand that the Department of Defence either rectify the conditions within seven days of a potential court judgment or provide alternative, habitable accommodation. However, Dubazana expressed skepticism about the feasibility of either solution, pointing to nearly two decades of systemic underfunding within the SANDF. “If they were to provide alternative accommodation, where would they take our members? This is not an isolated unit—across the country, units face similar challenges,” he said.
Dubazana also questioned the planning behind Operation Prosper, suggesting that presidential and ministerial approvals may have been based on inaccurate information about unit readiness. “We don’t believe leadership would have agreed to this deployment knowing the situation these units are in,” he said, adding that soldiers are trained for national defence, not prolonged domestic policing roles.
Referencing the SANDF’s previous withdrawal from the Democratic Republic of Congo due to logistical failures, Dubazana warned that repeating such oversights domestically undermines both morale and operational effectiveness. “If we do not have a cared-for SANDF, we do not have a country,” he asserted.
SANDU confirmed it is proceeding with urgent legal applications to compel immediate remedial action. The union continues to monitor the welfare of deployed members while urging government intervention to uphold constitutional obligations to those tasked with protecting the nation.
