CAPE TOWN - Deputy President Paul Mashatile's visit to the Cape Flats has been met with anger.
Mashatile and other government officials are in the area to assess progress in gang violence hotspots.
One resident said the SANDF's deployment is useless.
"So what difference did they come and make here? The army didn't do anything," said an angry resident.
"They don't do anything for our community, not even SAPS. What does SAPS stand for? South African Police Services. What services are they also providing for us? Nothing."
READ: SANDF operation not prospering yet in Cape Town gang hotspots
Troops had been deployed to assist police in gang violence hotspots.
Mashatile said the SANDF's Operation Prosper will only succeed if communities help.
"Operation Prosper is the operation of the police supported by the army or the SNDF here in the Western Cape, particularly the Cape Metro," Mashatile said.
"They are operating in these areas in the Cape Flats to deal with gangsterism and violence. We know that people have been killed in this area, people are selling drugs, so they are busy with that."