The Sweep

Blood in, Blood out.

The Cape Flats has put South Africa on the map ranking as one of the most dangerous countries in the world where over 900 murders have occurred as a direct result of gang violence in 2019. 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. Mitchell’s plain is one of those areas, where gangsterism and gang violence run the streets.
 An ongoing joint operation between the South African Police and SANDF (South African National Defense Force) was put in place to try and fight against gang related violence in the Cape Flats. Raids have been conducted in different parts 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 (MortuaryStatistics).
As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, suspected gang members stare at the police during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, suspected gang members stare at the police during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during 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 suspect 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 suspect 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 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 A

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.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets whilst a man works on his car during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets whilst a man works on his car during 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 resident of Mitchell’s plain reacts to the unfolding of a joint operation lead by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force). Cape Town August 9th 2019.

A resident of Mitchell’s plain reacts to the unfolding of a joint operation lead by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force). Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during 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 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 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 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 South African Police officer searches the house of a suspected gang member whilst a young girl looks on during a joint operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence Force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town Augus

A South African Police officer searches the house of a suspected gang member whilst a young girl looks on 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 police officer uncovers a pouch of drugs from a suspected gang member’s home 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 police officer uncovers a pouch of drugs from a suspected gang member’s home 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.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

As raids are conducted in the Cape Flats, soldiers patrol the streets during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

Suspected gang members are lined up on the ground gesturing gang signs during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

Suspected gang members are lined up on the ground gesturing gang signs during an operation led by the South African Police and the SANDF (South African National Defence force). Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town August 9th 2019.

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