Question NW671 to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
11 April 2023 - NW671
Mafanya, Mr WTI to ask the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans
Whether she has assessed the efficacy of the deployment of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) to the Cape Flats to assist in fighting violent crimes; if not, why not; if so, lo what extent has she found did the deployment of the SANDF assist in fighting violent crime in Cape Town?
Reply:
The efficacy of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deployment in the Cape Flats or anywhere else it is deployed is always under constant review as the situation evolves, with force levels up scaling or downscaling, or even withdrawal of forces, as the situation demands. The deployment of the SANDF on the Cape Flats must be regarded as part of the support provided to the South African Police Services as requested and mandated by the President of the Republic of South Africa.
However, the question of whether the deployment has reduced crime in the Cape Flats is best answered by the SAPS and through monitoring and evaluation, which fall outside the ambit of the defense establishment.