Ngobese-Zuma Slams R34 Million Soldier Deployment To KZN In A Fiery Post On Ramaphosa

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to deploy 510 soldiers to KwaZulu Natal, questioning the R34 million cost and asking whether it amounts to a declaration of war, less than two weeks before the 4 November local government elections.

In a post on X on Monday, Ngobese-Zuma claimed the money was being spent to “protect foreigners” while soldiers could not be sent to protect the border. She invoked Marikana, asked whether Ramaphosa was bringing back an apartheid bill, said South Africa was “fully in apartheid” and told followers to vote wisely. She did not say which bill she meant.

According to EWN, Ramaphosa authorised the deployment to support police during anti immigration protests in Durban and to prevent further flare ups. It forms part of Operation Prosper, an ongoing joint security operation, and runs until 30 November. Ramaphosa informed Parliament in writing on 21 October, as the Constitution requires. The soldiers will be on standby for any eventualities.

Ramaphosa said misinformation about a court judgment led to the violence. On 8 October, police said 10 vehicles were torched in Johannesburg and 14 in Durban, and foreign owned shops were looted. One person was killed last week. The Constitutional Court’s July ruling in the Scalabrini case struck down procedural barriers that let officials turn asylum seekers away before their claims were heard. The government says it does not grant automatic refugee status or residence.

It is not the first deployment this year. Ramaphosa approved 3 405 soldiers nationwide from 28 June to 31 July at an estimated R54.6 million during anti migrant protests.

March and March has led months of protests demanding action against undocumented foreign nationals. The movement says it distances itself from violence, while the authorities have charged several people over last month’s unrest, including men linked to threats to shut down the MTN8 final in Durban.

Marikana refers to the 2012 shooting of 34 striking miners by police near the Lonmin mine in North West, which remains one of the most contested episodes of the post apartheid era.

Source: https://x.com/jacintangobese/status/2114664795458699323?s=46

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