Ramaphosa Says Misinformation About ConCourt Ruling Sparked Violent Protests

• President Ramaphosa cited distorted information about a Constitutional Court ruling as the trigger behind anti-foreigner violence in KwaZulu-Natal and Soweto
• The SANDF deployment under Operation Prosper runs from 9 October to 30 November at a cost of R34 million
• The Department of Home Affairs withdrew a directive to process new asylum seekers after violent demonstrations broke out at reception offices

SOUTH AFRICA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has identified the spread of distorted information about a Constitutional Court judgment as the root cause of anti-foreigner violence that erupted in KwaZulu-Natal and Soweto, prompting the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to restore order.

News24 reported that in a written communication to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, Ramaphosa outlined how false interpretations of the court ruling circulated widely and inflamed anti-immigration sentiment, leading to protests and unrest at Home Affairs offices where asylum seekers had gathered in long queues.

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What the Constitutional Court actually ruled

The apex court struck down specific provisions of the Refugees Act that had barred asylum seekers from entering the formal application process. Acting on the ruling, the Department of Home Affairs issued a directive on 28 September instructing its reception offices to process all new applicants, including those who had entered the country irregularly. However, the department withdrew the instruction on 9 October after violent demonstrations broke out in response.

The unrest was concentrated in KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in Durban, as well as in Soweto, where anti-migrant groups staged protests at Home Affairs facilities.

SANDF on standby for planned marches

To contain the situation, Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of the SANDF in support of the South African Police Service (SAPS) under a programme designated Operation Prosper. The deployment runs from 9 October to 30 November 2025 at a total cost of R34,082,720. Military personnel have been placed on standby specifically in anticipation of further planned anti-immigrant marches.

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Ramaphosa confirmed that the deployment is consistent with the constitutional framework governing military assistance to civilian law enforcement. The intervention follows a broader pattern of tension around immigration policy in South Africa, where anti-foreigner sentiment has periodically escalated into street-level violence targeting both documented and undocumented migrants.

Ramaphosa slams US refugee applicants

In a related article, Briefly News reported on Ramaphosa’s criticism of South Africans seeking refugee status in the United States and the programme at the centre of the dispute.

The US initiative offers refugee status to Afrikaners and other South African minorities who can demonstrate a personal experience or well-founded fear of racial persecution. Ramaphosa said some applicants were spreading falsehoods about their country, calling their actions “most unpatriotic.”

Source: Briefly News