Members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) have now been deployed in KwaZulu-Natal to curb the spread of the attack on foreign nationals.
SANDF spokesperson Brigadier-General Xolani Mabanga has confirmed the provincial deployment. The nationwide deployment began in Gauteng on Tuesday night when the army supported the police in a raid on hostels in Jeppestown, Johannesburg.
Mabanga says the soldiers will have the same mission in KwaZulu-Natal.
“Authority has been given to deploy the SANDF in support of the SAPS in the areas where the SAPS will require assistance by the SANDF in curbing the xenophobic attacks to the people of foreign origin in areas affected by that be it in KwaZulu-Natal, in Gauteng or wherever it may surface.”
The SANDF says it will not divulge exactly how many troops will be deployed across the country in support of the police.
The deployment is aimed at bringing xenophobic violence hotspots under control.