On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he had authorised the deployment of 2,500 defence force personnel in support of the police service. following his address, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has sent a letter to the President questioning the deployment of the SANDF, its intention as well as its function in light of the growing violence in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng. According to the letter, Ramaphosa will have to give more details to back his decision before the end of Business on Tuesday.

The EFF rejected the deployment of the SANDF and said a government that unleashed the army on its people was a sign of failure on its part. The party's Commander In Chief  Julius Malema says that a political solution should be sought and has even threatened to put his own party members against the SANDF.

“A government that deploys the army against its own people has essentially conceded that it is no longer a government of the people,” the statement read.