In 1975 the forced removals of all people of colour from Cape Town’s inner-city, created the so-called “Cape Flats”, where all “non-whites” were relocated. Mitchells Plain is one of those areas, where gangsterism and gang violence runs the streets.
An ongoing, joint operation between the South African Police and SANDF (South African National Defence Force) is in place to try fight against gang violence in the Cape Flats. Raids have been conducted in different areas of the Cape Flats with the aim of making arrests, seizing drugs and weapons, and most of all, as an act of presence to try and shift the power dynamics in these gang-ridden areas.
This photo essay documents the deployment of the army and police in the Cape flats in response to the 900 deaths caused by gang violence between January and June 2019 (Mortuary Statistics).
Image Captions: —— As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the perimeter surrounding an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019
—— A boy gestures as Police and soldiers enter an apartment block where suspects of gang affiliation are supposedly hiding, Cape flats. September 8th of 2019
—— A suspect is pinned down whilst his home is searched during a joint operation lead by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019
—— A police officer uncovers a pouch of drugs from a suspected gang member’s roof during a joint operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force).Mitchell’s plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019
—— A man arrested on a previous raid looks through the grid of a police van while suspects are ordered to lay down during a joint operation lead by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force)Mitchell’s plain,Cape Town August 9th 2019
—— A resident of Mitchells Plain reacts to the unfolding of a joint operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force).Cape Town August 9th 2019