South Africa deploys over 3,000 troops to counter violent anti-migrant protests

President Cyril Ramaphosa authorises military intervention costing 54.6 million rand to bolster police presence as weekly demonstrations threaten national security.

JOHANNESBURG: The South African government has deployed 3,405 soldiers across the country to reinforce law enforcement operations and maintain public order during a wave of volatile anti-migrant protests. The military deployment, which commenced on 28 June and is projected to cost approximately 54.6 million rand (3.37 million dollars), was officially confirmed on Friday via an executive letter from President Cyril Ramaphosa to the parliamentary speaker.

The decision to station the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on standby follows widespread unrest on Tuesday, when thousands of demonstrators draped in national flags marched through multiple cities. Whilst organisers have vowed to sustain pressure on the state by holding coordinated marches every Thursday, recent gatherings have frequently descended into localised rioting, prompting deep international concern over the safety of foreign nationals.

Members of the SANDF will cooperate with the South African Police Service in the prevention and combating of crime and maintenance of law and order, and will remain on standby for any eventualities.

– President Cyril Ramaphosa, in an official briefing to parliament

During the latest round of demonstrations, specialised police units arrested more than 900 individuals for various offences, including public violence, robbery, immigration infractions, and the intentional harbouring of undocumented foreign nationals. Soldiers have specifically targeted high-risk urban sectors, including an inner-city zone in Johannesburg with a dense migrant population, to suppress instances of looting and malicious damage to property.

The structural unrest follows months of escalating tension during which foreign residents have faced forced displacement, vandalism, and the targeted destruction of their commercial enterprises. Protest organisers have continually justified the aggressive stance by asserting that immigrants displace local workers, escalate domestic crime rates, and overwhelm public utilities.

However, social scientists emphasise that these widespread claims lack empirical evidence. Data from Statistics South Africa indicates that the country’s immigrant population hovers around 3 million individuals, accounting for roughly 4 per cent of the total national population, a demographic proportion that remains comparatively low by global standards.