CAPE TOWN - A Cape Town woman is calling for action against a soldier who allegedly assaulted her during an Operation Prosper deployment in Mitchells Plain on Friday.
Bonita Smith says she was assaulted after asking why her son, whom she had sent to withdraw money, had been apprehended.
READ: 1,287 suspects arrested through Operation Prosper in May
“We are already afraid of gangsters. We are living in fear,” Smith said.
“If the army and the police can’t protect us, where must we go?” she said.
Smith says she supports the deployment of the army in the Cape Flats but believes alleged abuse cannot be tolerated.
She says her son was arrested for allegedly being in possession of an unlicensed firearm, but was released on Monday without appearing in court.
READ: 'Our communities are fearful' - Cape Flats communities question Operation Prosper
The Military Ombud says 24 complaints have been lodged against the army since its deployment countrywide.
However, no disciplinary action has been taken so far.
The South African National Defence Force says it is investigating the matter.