'KZN will never be allowed to burn again’: Ntuli defends army deployment

'KZN will never be allowed to burn again’: Ntuli defends army deployment Nokuthula Khanyile Tue, 10/13/2026 - 14:15

DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli says he has no regrets about requesting the deployment of the army after violent protests against undocumented foreign nationals erupted in the province last week.

Ntuli, who has faced widespread criticism over the decision, said his priority was to protect lives, businesses, jobs and infrastructure. He said the province could not afford a repeat of the July 2021 unrest.

The protests followed a Constitutional Court ruling that everyone must be given a fair opportunity to apply for asylum, regardless of their documentation status. The ensuing unrest was marked by looting and the torching of vehicles.

The premier said that while some leaders might be afraid to speak out for fear of becoming unpopular, he was prepared to stand firm.

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“I will not allow that in KwaZulu-Natal,” he said.

“I carry the responsibility to protect life and property. That responsibility is not subject to a popularity barometer. Those who observed the July 2021 riots would remember the deadly chaos spread very fast. We learnt a lesson from that. KwaZulu-Natal will never be allowed to burn again.”

Ntuli said the government’s decisions were aimed at safeguarding the province’s residents and that he would not compromise on this responsibility to secure votes.

“If there are people who say they want to loot and then say I must get out of their way so they can vote for me, they can keep their votes. People must vote [for leaders who] serve them with integrity and truth,” he said.

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More than 30,000 people in the province lost their jobs as a result of the 2021 unrest.

“In 2021, more than 30,000 people in the province lost jobs due to the unrest. Who must allow that to happen again? We need to protect these jobs and restore our economy.”

He maintained that undocumented foreign nationals should return to their countries of origin but insisted that the law must be upheld.

“But the law must be followed nonetheless, there must be no violence or destroying of infrastructure,” he said.