Mitchells Plain sees standoff between some Tafelsig residents and law enforcers

A tense standoff between some Tafelsig residents, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and metro police has ensued in Mitchells Plain on day one of Operation Prosper.

On Wednesday, about 200 SANDF troops were deployed to gang hotspots in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, one of the areas worst hit by gang violence in the province.

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Children and residents welcomed the troops with cheers and applause, while others, suspected of gang-related activity, were upset after their homes were raided.

SANDF troops secured the entrance to Matapos Crescent in Tafelsig on Wednesday, while police raided a premises suspected of being a drug den.

After nothing illegal was found, occupants of the suspected drug den accused police of raiding the wrong house.

"This is not on... if we were drug dealers, it would have been a different case. They would have found drugs here or a gun. There's no stuff like that here."

Member of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, who was at the scene on Wednesday, insisted the raid was legitimate.

"These addresses were identified through intelligence structures over a period of time with a mixture of the SANDF as well as the South African Police Service."

Other residents welcomed the raids, saying they are hopeful the SANDF deployment will bring some relief from persistent shootings in the area.