Ramaphosa deploys 510 soldiers amid anti-immigrant violence in KwaZulu-Natal
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 510 soldiers to KwaZulu-Natal to support police amid anti-immigration protests. The troops are to remain on duty until 30 November, at a cost of more than 34 million rand, according to IOL.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 510 members of the armed forces to KwaZulu-Natal province to support police during anti-immigrant protests. In a letter dated 21 October to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, he said the soldiers would be deployed as part of Operation Prosper, according to IOL.
Ramaphosa attributed the violence to misinformation about a Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications. The court ruled that procedural errors related to immigration could not prevent an applicant from lodging an asylum application before it was considered on its merits. False claims on social media portrayed the ruling as automatically granting migrants citizenship, jobs and the right to vote.
The deployment is due to last until 30 November and cost just over 34 million rand, the president said. The Department of Home Affairs withdrew a directive intended to implement the ruling after protests and violence in KwaZulu-Natal and parts of Soweto.
The announcement follows the death of a Ugandan man and the arrest of five suspects during violence in Durban on 24 October. It follows the burning of 24 vehicles during anti-immigrant violence, reported on 9 October.
