CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has formally submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to compel the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to release the long-awaited interim Operation Prosper report. As gang violence continues to escalate, the party argues that transparency surrounding the military and police deployment is critical to delivering tangible, accountable solutions for communities living under daily siege.
Nicholas Gotsell, the DA’s National Council of Provinces Security and Justice member, emphasized that the interim Operation Prosper report is essential for public accountability. According to Gotsell, the president’s spokesperson indicated at the end of May that the government was awaiting the finalized reports from both the SANDF and SAPS to decide whether to release the findings in full or in part. However, as of mid-July, the document remains undisclosed.
Despite the acting minister of police recently announcing the completion of the operation’s first phase and a transition into a second phase aimed at dismantling drug cartels and criminal networks, gang-related murders have persisted. Gotsell noted that in some weeks, violence has surpassed levels seen both before the deployment and during the previous year. Highlighting the urgency of the crisis, he pointed out that 10 children were recently shot on the Cape Flats, resulting in three fatalities.
Financial accountability surrounding the deployment is also a major point of contention. While an estimated R823 million has been cited for the operation, the Minister of Defense has reportedly been reluctant to clarify how this figure was calculated. Compounding these concerns, revelations emerged six weeks ago that troops stationed at Fort Ikapa in Goodwood were living in dire conditions. This has raised serious questions about how the allocated funds for logistics, fuel, and food are actually being utilized on the ground.
Addressing recent operational successes, such as the July 7 arrest of 217 illegal miners in the Gauteng, Gotsell applauded the efforts but stressed that arrests alone are insufficient. He warned against the infinite deployment of the military, arguing that the SAPS must use this intervention period to rebuild its day-to-day operational capacity, intelligence gathering, and resource management so that the army is no longer a crutch.
The ultimate measure of success, Gotsell argued, lies in the broader justice system: whether investigations are thorough, cases reliably reach court, and convictions are secured to prevent recidivism. Echoing the need for localized, sustainable solutions, he highlighted that the Mayor of Cape Town recently announced the establishment of a new investigative unit within the Metro Police. Empowering capable local governments, the DA maintains, is the most viable path to restoring lasting safety and rebuilding public confidence in law enforcement.
