PRETORIA, Gauteng — In a decisive move to maintain national stability, South Africa has launched a major military deployment to assist local law enforcement. President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized the deployment of 3,405 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel nationwide to manage and quell ongoing anti-illegal immigration protests.
The operation, which commenced on June 28, is scheduled to run until July 31 at an estimated cost of R54.6 million. The strategic decision follows a massive security operation on June 30, which required the mobilization of approximately 15,000 police officers and cost an estimated R600 million. While the June 30 protests were largely peaceful and well-contained, the unrest has evolved into a prolonged situation requiring sustained, preemptive intervention.
Independent security consultant Willem Els explained that the military’s role is strictly to act as a “force enhancer” rather than taking over primary policing functions.
“They are not appointed as peace officers; they basically have the same legal status as a security guard supporting the police,” Els noted. He emphasized that the deployment is necessary because police resources are stretched incredibly thin during prolonged operations, as officers require rest and work in rotational cycles. The military steps in to provide additional manpower and resources to maintain the perimeter and support law enforcement.
This nationwide deployment differs significantly from “Operation Prosper,” which recently saw 2,200 SANDF members deployed primarily in the Cape Flats, parts of Gauteng, and the Western Cape. Operation Prosper, budgeted at R823 million, focuses specifically on combating gang violence and illegal mining. In contrast, the current anti-immigration protests are spread across the country, necessitating a broader military footprint to prevent a spillover of unrest.
The cumulative costs of these security operations raise questions about fiscal priorities in the current economic climate. Els highlighted the heavy logistical burden of such deployments, noting that moving thousands of troops and police requires massive expenditures on transport, fuel, accommodation, meals, and equipment.
Lawmakers are currently facing a stark dilemma, according to Els: underinvest in security and risk a volatile collapse similar to the 2021 unrest, or spend heavily to maintain order and ride out the current wave of protests.
However, Els emphasized that the police and military mandates do not extend to addressing the socio-economic drivers fueling the protests. “It is not the police’s work to address the grievances of the communities,” he stated, urging that socio-economic issues be tackled in parallel with security operations. Without parallel interventions, he warned, the country risks sitting with indefinite military deployments.
When evaluating the success of the current SANDF deployment, Els pointed out that a slight reduction in crime statistics in deployment areas does not justify the massive financial investment on its own. Instead, the primary indicators of success are macro-level: preventing the country from being “burned down” as seen in 2021, avoiding significant loss of life, and keeping the economy stable. The rule of law was largely maintained on both sides during the initial protests, which Els credited to thorough joint planning and intelligence pooling between the police and private security entities.
Looking ahead, Els cautioned against repeating past mistakes, referencing the 2019 military deployment in the Cape Flats. That operation yielded unfavorable parliamentary and military reports for failing to meet its set objectives. He stressed the need for out-of-the-box thinking and improved strategies to ensure the current R54.6 million investment yields tangible, long-term successes rather than just a temporary reduction in crime statistics.
