Politics · Other · 2 hrs ago
KZN premier defends army deployment as IFP dispute deepens
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli defended sending soldiers to Durban after anti-immigration protests turned violent.
The protests followed a Constitutional Court directive requiring Home Affairs to accept asylum applications from foreign nationals, whether they were in the country legally or not.
Demonstrations spread through eThekwini, with clashes, looting and fires; protesters also threatened to disrupt the MTN 8 Cup final, which went ahead.
Ntuli said the deployment was needed to protect people and property, citing lessons from the deadly 2021 riots.
IFP deputy mayoral candidate Sizwe Skhakhane criticised the decision, accusing Ntuli of siding with foreign nationals rather than local residents.
The criticism widened a dispute inside the IFP, where Ntuli’s supporters accused Skhakhane of trying to damage the party.
An IFP leadership contest is ahead, but the party conference at which President Velenkosini Hlabisa seeks re-election has not been confirmed.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli defended deploying soldiers to Durban after anti-illegal immigration protests escalated into violence.
The provincial cabinet requested support from the South African National Defence Force to quell the demonstrations.
Ntuli said he had a responsibility to protect life and property and that the province would not be allowed to burn again.
IFP deputy mayoral candidate Sizwe Skhakhane criticised the deployment, saying Ntuli was siding with foreign nationals rather than local residents.
The dispute prompted a fallout within the IFP, with Ntuli’s backers accusing Skhakhane of trying to damage the party.
- Who
- KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli defended the deployment; IFP deputy mayoral candidate Sizwe Skhakhane criticised it.
- What
- The provincial cabinet requested South African National Defence Force support to quell anti-illegal immigration demonstrations.
- When
- The demonstrations flared up last week; soldiers were deployed on Saturday.
- Where
- Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, including the eThekwini metro.
- Why
- The cabinet sought to quell protests that escalated into clashes, looting and fires, amid threats to stop the MTN 8 Cup final.
Thamsanqa Ntuli
Sizwe Skhakhane
Army deployment
Thamsanqa Ntuli
Ntuli said he had a responsibility to protect life and property and defended the decision.
Sizwe Skhakhane
Skhakhane rebuked the deployment and accused Ntuli of working for foreign nationals rather than local residents.
A Constitutional Court directive compelled the Department of Home Affairs to accept asylum applications from foreign nationals, regardless of whether they were in the country legally.
Demonstrations against illegal immigration flared in Durban and escalated into clashes, looting and fires.
After demonstrators threatened to stop the MTN 8 Cup final, soldiers were deployed; the game went ahead as scheduled.
- Premier
- Thamsanqa Ntuli
- Military force
- South African National Defence Force
- Protest location
- Che Guevara Road, eThekwini
- Football match
- MTN 8 Cup final at Moses Mabhida Stadium
What people are saying
KwaZulu-Natal will never be allowed to burn again
It’s clear that this is not the Mphemba (Ntuli clan name) that works for the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal. But instead, he works for foreign nationals.
Sources
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