South African troops patrol Durban after violent protests

South African soldiers have joined police patrols in central Durban following violent protests against undocumented immigration.

SABC News and eNCA reported the military’s presence on October 10. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli had requested army assistance the previous day, saying police were struggling to contain the unrest.

Protesters demanded the removal of undocumented foreign nationals and a halt to asylum applications. Shops and other businesses were damaged during the violence.

SABC initially reported 19 arrests following the protests. A later report by The Witness, citing SAPS, listed 25 arrests in KwaZulu-Natal and five in Gauteng. Those figures cover different geographical areas.

The troops are supporting police efforts to stabilise conditions. Arrests do not establish guilt. The reports cited did not specify the size of the deployment or how long the soldiers would remain.