KWAZULU-NATAL — In a decisive move to restore stability, President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorized a major SANDF deployment to KwaZulu-Natal, sending 510 military personnel to assist local police in quelling violence fueled by widespread misinformation.
The troops will work in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to maintain law and order, specifically targeting recent violent actions tied to a coordinated misinformation campaign. This campaign has spread false narratives regarding a recent Constitutional Court judgment concerning the Refugee Act.
Official Notification and Standby Status
In an official statement released on Tuesday, The Presidency confirmed that President Ramaphosa formally notified the legislative leadership of this military intervention. The President informed Thoko Didiza, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, of his decision to deploy the army.
According to the statement, the 510 SANDF members will remain on standby to support the police force for any eventuality that may arise. Their primary mandate is to assist SAPS in maintaining peace, particularly as the province deals with the fallout of the misinformation campaign.
Addressing the Misinformation
The root of the recent unrest stems from fabricated claims circulating about the Constitutional Court’s ruling on asylum applications. False narratives suggested that the judgment grants blanket amnesty to all undocumented foreign nationals in the country.
The government has strongly rebuffed these claims, clarifying through the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that the asylum ruling does not automatically grant refugee status. Despite these clarifications, the misinformation has already incited public violence and unlawful protests.
Recent Arrests and Operational Details
Law enforcement has already begun cracking down on the instigators of the unrest. Earlier this month, police arrested 30 suspects in connection with public violence and unlawful protests. Of those arrested, 25 were apprehended in KwaZulu-Natal, while the remaining five were arrested in Gauteng.
The military deployment was authorized in strict accordance with section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996). The operational period for the SANDF’s support role is scheduled to run from 9 October until 30 November 2026.
The expected financial expenditure for the deployment and associated logistical support amounts to R34,082,720.
