South African military denies deployment plans ahead of anti-immigration protests

JOHANNESBURG — The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has dismissed social media reports claiming that soldiers will be deployed at the end of June to counter planned civil society protests, the South African Government News Agency reported on Sunday.

The planned marches, organised by various civil society groups, focus on demands for the immediate repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals.

"The SANDF dismisses these claims as false, unfounded, and deliberately misleading," the military command said in a statement. "At no stage has the SANDF issued any directive or made preparations for deployment in relation to these activities."

The defence force emphasised its respect for the South African Constitution, noting that it fully recognises the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests.

Military officials cautioned the public against spreading unverified information, warning that such rumours serve only to undermine public trust and create unnecessary panic.

This clarification follows a briefing late last week by the government's Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, which affirmed that while members of the public are free to march, protest leaders must ensure their demonstrations are conducted responsibly and within the law.

The SANDF said in its statement that any future operations will remain strictly within its constitutionally defined mandate.

South Africa has witnessed a tense wave of anti-immigration demonstrations. Organisers cite high domestic unemployment, rising crime rates, and mounting pressure on public infrastructure as their primary grievances.

Anti-immigration groups have set June 30 as a deadline, demanding that all undocumented foreigners leave the country, and have threatened a nationwide shutdown if the government fails to act.

The unfolding situation has drawn sharp concern across the continent, prompting several African nations to lodge diplomatic protests with the South African government.

As the June deadline looms, countries such as Ghana and Nigeria have begun evacuating their citizens over safety concerns, with Ghana already repatriating its first batch of nearly 300 citizens via chartered flights.