KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa (Thami) Ntuli defends his request for SANDF deployment in Durban after violent protests over the weekend. Multiple outlets report that his comments come in response to criticism and political pressure following the unrest, which leaves tensions high in the city’s central business district.
News24 adds that the premier’s position triggers an internal dispute within the IFP, as party figures hit back at his decision to call for the army. The outlet reports that 19 people are arrested in connection with the unrest and that some IFP members argue the deployment decision is contentious.
IOL similarly describes a rift emerging in the IFP, quoting criticism from an IFP candidate, and characterizing the dispute as part of a broader party disagreement. The South African also frames Ntuli’s defence as a response to the controversy over why soldiers should be brought in as protests turn violent.
