Parties split over SANDF deployment as parts of SA burn
Violent protests broke out last week following the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma for his contempt of a constitutional court ruling.
The deployment of the South African National Defence Force to quell the violent uprising affecting Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal has split opinion among political parties.
On Monday, the SANDF announced it had commenced with pre-deployment processes to assist law enforcement agencies deployed in both provinces to quell the unrest that has gripped the provinces in the last few days.
Reacting to the deployment news, EFF Gauteng chairperson Itani Edwin Mukwevho concurred with his leader Julius Malema who rejected use of soldiers in the protests and threatened to hit the streets.
No soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining. All fighters must be ready… they won't kill us all. We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers.#NoToSoldiers
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) July 12, 2021
READ MORE:‘SANDF should have been deployed sooner’
Mukwevho argued that the protests were a result of political unrest after the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma and that it should be solved by politicians and the state, not to use armed forces.
“What is happening on the ground is not a matter which needs soldiers. It is a matter that requires the government’s will and political leadership,” Mukwevho said.
“This needs political leaders to address people on the ground. Unled protests end up in anarchy because there is no one who can provide leadership.”
Mukwevho could not comment whether the party would be protesting against the deployment, but said provincial leadership was awaiting for the national to give the green light.
“What we do not agree with, is that soldiers when they come on the ground they assault, harass and kill people in townships, like that incident of Collins Khoza. It will make things worse,” Mukwevho said.
“Political leaders must get out of their comfortable zones and address people. When we get guidance from our national leadership, we will take over and be on the side of our people.”
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen endorsed the deployment of the SANDF.
READ MORE: Pretoria malls quiet, as violent ‘Zuma protests’ rage across the country
On Monday, Steenhuisen called for the deployment of the SANDF, saying protests “requires an urgent and firm response from government”.
“The DA calls on president Ramaphosa to authorise the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), in a supplementary role to the South African Police Service (SAPS), in targeted areas to assist with tasks such as access control and the opening of transport routes. Our constitution allows for such a deployment.”
Steenhuisen called for an urgent meeting with all party leaders to discuss the demonstrations, followed by a joint statement setting out a response.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was set to address the nation later on Monday, on the government’s response to persisting public violence affecting several parts of the country.
Over the past week, several protest actions took place in KwaZulu-Natal, leading to a number of trucks being burnt. The protests expanded to Johannesburg on Sunday, where shops were looted.
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