South Africa has deployed more than 3,000 soldiers nationwide to bolster security and support police this month during anti-migrant protests that organisers have vowed to hold every week, a letter signed by the president showed on Friday.
Protesters marched across cities on Tuesday, with some demonstrations hit by violence, and an anti-migrant movement says it will march again every Thursday to press its demands for the government to take a tougher stance on undocumented foreign nationals.
In the letter sent to the parliamentary speaker, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the deployment of 3,405 members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) began on June 28 and would cost an estimated R54.6-million ($3.37 million).
“Members of the SANDF … will be on standby for any eventualities,” said the letter, which was published by parliament.
Thousands of demonstrators draped in national flags, some wielding wooden weapons, took to the streets on Tuesday. The protests were mainly peaceful, but a handful descended into violence and looting of shops.
Police arrested more than 900 people for offences including immigration violations, public violence, robbery and harbouring undocumented migrants. Soldiers were deployed to an inner-city part of Johannesburg where many migrants stay.
The protests followed months of unrest that drew international criticism as foreigners were driven from their homes and saw their businesses and property vandalised.
Social scientists say that immigrants take jobs, drive crime and put pressure on public services, but they claim that these claims lack evidence.
The immigrant population stands at about three million, or about 4% of the total, according to StatsSA, a relatively low share by global standards.
($1 = 16.2122 rand)
- South Africa has deployed over 3,000 soldiers nationwide to support police amid weekly anti-migrant protests, starting June 28, costing approximately R54.6 million ($3.37 million).
- The protests, organized by an anti-migrant movement, occur every Thursday, demanding stricter government action against undocumented foreigners.
- On June 27, thousands marched peacefully across cities, though some instances involved violence and looting; police arrested over 900 people for various offenses.
- Soldiers were stationed in Johannesburg’s inner city, a hub for many migrants, to maintain order and prevent further unrest.
- Despite public perceptions linking immigrants to crime and job competition, social scientists argue these claims lack evidence; immigrants make up around 4% of South Africa’s population.
