This archive report was first published on 14 August 2019.
Published on August 14, 2019, the Cape Flats area in South Africa's Cape Town has become one of the most dangerous places in the country, plagued by gangsterism and under-resourced policing.
Waving and giggling, crowds of children scamper behind a Casspir military armoured truck trailed by police vehicles as they snake through the streets on a raid in the gang-ridden area.
South Africa deployed 1,300 soldiers to shore up the police forces battling deadly gang violence in the area in July.
However, a month after their deployment, the troops appear to have brought little relief for the crime-weary and poverty-stricken community.
"Everybody was elated when they heard the news that the army was going to come in because the situation was so dire, that anything to improve the situation would have helped," said Kader Jacobs, who heads a community policing forum in Manenberg township.
But locals continue to live in fear and suspect may cases won't be thoroughly investigated.
Police Minister Bheki Cele said while "it's not an ideal world to send soldiers into communities," there has been more than 1,000 arrests so far for various crimes including attempted murder, robbery and hijackings.
Despite the army presence over the past month, 47 deaths were reported on the second weekend of August -- making it the deadliest weekend since the infantry arrived.
