WC police, SANDF conduct drills ahead of the official Cape deployment

Western Cape police are preparing a select contingent of officers with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members for drills in crime hotspots in the province.

Police said these scanning exercises are in preparation for the army's deployment in the Cape soon.

The two-day operation includes an air and ground presence.

South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Western Cape said this operational scanning exercise should not be mistaken for the actual start of the deployment of the SANDF.

More than 2,000 soldiers have been deployed to help fight crime in all nine provinces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the army will serve as a force multipliers for the police to intercept gang and gun violence and illegal mining.

Police management said the operational exercise currently underway is essential preparation for the integrated forces ahead of the actual deployment.

At the same time, the provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, has appealed to the public to respect the operational spaces required by the police and army forces and not interfere with their work.

Soldiers are expected to maintain a presence in various crime hotspots in the Western Cape.

The details of the rollout are yet to be announced.

ALSO READ:

DA's Ian Cameron seeks clarity on legality of SANDF deployment

Analyst on SANDF deployment: Soldiers should not be doing the police's work

Permanent deployment of SANDF would be expensive, says Ramaphosa