The presidency announced a 510-soldier deployment to KwaZulu-Natal to assist police during anti-migrant demonstrations.
Reuters reported the deployment began Oct. 9 and runs through Nov. 30. Reuters reported an expected cost of 34.1 million rand ($2.05 million).
In a statement, Ramaphosa’s office connected the deployment to recent violence arising from misinformation about a July decision by South Africa’s Constitutional Court. Reuters reported that procedural grounds alone cannot be used to deny asylum seekers access to the country’s asylum system under the ruling.
Reuters reported vehicle fires and shop looting during October clashes in Durban and Soweto. The outlet also reported that a crowd allegedly beat a foreign national to death in Durban last week.
Reuters said the protests have drawn criticism abroad; it also reported that thousands of African foreign nationals have left the country. Local government elections are scheduled for Nov. 4, and Reuters said the troop deployment is set to continue through Nov. 30.
