South Africa sends troops to KwaZulu-Natal after protests over refugee ruling

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of hundreds of military personnel to KwaZulu-Natal to help police control unrest stemming from anti-immigration demonstrations, the presidency confirmed.

A total of 510 members of the South African National Defence Force will assist the South African Police Service under Operation Prosper, an established inter-agency initiative designed to curb serious crime and stabilise high-risk regions. The operation is scheduled to run from 9 October through 30 November, with an estimated expenditure of just over R34 million.

Government officials attributed the unrest to false information circulating around a major judicial decision. Vincent Magwenya, speaking on behalf of the presidency, explained that the troops would aid law enforcement in securing the province, pointing specifically to violent outbreaks fueled by distorted interpretations of a Constitutional Court verdict concerning the Refugee Act.

The legal ruling at the centre of the tension was delivered on 7 July in a case brought by the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town against the Minister of Home Affairs. In that decision, the nation's highest court dismantled several procedural hurdles that had previously stopped undocumented migrants from entering the asylum process.

The verdict triggered significant controversy across the country, leading to demonstrations, turmoil at refugee processing centres, and a policy change by the Department of Home Affairs. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi noted that processing facilities became inundated with individuals seeking status, characterising the overcrowding as an unintended outcome of the court's decree.

Authorities are preparing for potential escalations in public unrest as municipal elections scheduled for 4 November approach. According to the presidency, the deployed troops will remain on alert alongside police units to respond to any disruptions and ensure public safety during the period.