South Africa deploys military to Cape Town townships hit by crime

The violence and elsewhere prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa in February to announce the deployment to boost the country's struggling police force, saying crime was one of the biggest threats facing South Africa. Codenamed "Operation Prosper," the deployment will last a year and cover five of the nine provinces, including Gauteng, home to the financial capital Johannesburg, according to a plan presented to parliament. South Africa has repeatedly turned to the army in times of crisis, from enforcing strict COVID‑19 lockdowns in 2020 to deploying troops during the deadly riots sparked by the jailing of ex‑president Jacob Zuma in 2021.