By Thapelo Molefe
The deployment of 3,405 South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members to support police during anti-illegal immigration protests and planned nationwide demonstrations cost taxpayers an estimated R54.6 million, Parliament heard on Thursday.
The Department of Defence briefed the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and Military Veterans (JSCDMV) on Operation Prosper, a contingency deployment authorised by President Cyril Ramaphosa to assist the South African Police Service (SAPS) in maintaining law and order between 28 June and 11 July.
According to the department’s presentation, the 14-day deployment was expected to cost R54,603,584, including R20.5 million for employee compensation and R34.1 million for goods and services. The department said the expenditure would be funded as unforeseen costs within the overall Operation Prosper budget.
The deployment followed growing security concerns ahead of planned nationwide protests on 30 June, which government feared could trigger violence and increased criminal activity.
The department told
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