President Ramaphosa Exposes Who Requested SANDF Troops In eThekwini

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated that members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are only functioning in a supporting capacity alongside the South African Police Service (SAPS) and clarified that the deployment of armed military forces throughout eThekwini was started directly at the formal request of the municipal city council.

Ramaphosa defended the executive decision to approve the troop deployment under Operation Prosper while speaking to members of the community and media representatives during an African National Congress (ANC) campaign tour across KwaZulu-Natal. The President clarified that after a string of violent street protests, anti-immigration marches, and altercations along important commercial transit routes, municipal leadership requested national security reinforcement to safeguard municipal infrastructure, uphold public order, and avoid economic disruption. He stressed that the military is supporting state operational capability during a time of increased social tension rather than assuming main law enforcement responsibilities or taking over police leadership.

In accordance with section 201(2)(a) of the Constitution, which governs military support for civilian policing, the executive authorisation places more than 500 SANDF troops on standby in KwaZulu-Natal until late November at an estimated cost of R34 million. Ramaphosa emphasised that the goal of the soldier presence is to guarantee that local companies can operate safely without fear of extortion or violence, that public rallies remain peaceful, and that transport corridors stay accessible. He assured locals that state security forces will strictly adhere to constitutional bounds in order to protect public safety and uphold order throughout the metropolitan municipality prior to the November 4 elections, dismissing criticism from civic organisations and political rivals who called the deployment an overreach.

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