‘There could be mayhem’: Reports link KZN army deployment to Zuma concerns

KwaZulu-Natal – South African soldiers have been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal amid violent anti-immigration protests, with reports suggesting the military presence could also serve as a contingency measure should former president Jacob Zuma die.

According to The Citizen, the reported deployment comes as Zuma, 84, is receiving treatment at Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg after reportedly being admitted by ambulance on Tuesday, 6 October 2026.

Sources close to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader have reportedly expressed concern about his condition, which they described as being at a “very concerning stage”. However, the party has maintained that Zuma attended a routine medical check-up.

A source quoted in a News24 report cited by The Citizen warned that “there could be mayhem” if Zuma dies. The SANDF has not confirmed that preparing for possible unrest related to Zuma’s death is a reason for the deployment.

Good spirits

The reports come amid conflicting accounts of Zuma’s health. On 7 October, the MK Party said he was in good health and spirits, with spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu stating: “We hereby confirm that he is healthy and in good spirits. His campaign programme will continue accordingly.”

However, The Witness subsequently reported that Zuma remained in a private hospital despite assurances from his representatives. The publication cited eyewitness accounts and hospital sources, although his diagnosis and the severity of his condition have not been independently established.

Meanwhile, Eyewitness News (EWN) reported that the MK Party had insisted Zuma was fit and intended to continue campaigning ahead of the local government elections.

The military deployment also comes against the backdrop of the July 2021 unrest, which erupted in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following Zuma’s imprisonment for contempt of court. The violence and looting left approximately 354 people dead and resulted in thousands of arrests.

Substantial support

Political analyst and North-West University professor André Duvenhage told The Citizen that the current circumstances could be more serious than publicly acknowledged.

“My reading of the political environment, the body language of the situation, is telling me that this is most probably more serious,” he said.

Zuma remains a central figure in South African politics, and any prolonged absence could have significant implications for the MK Party, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where the party enjoys substantial support.

For now, the military’s reported role in preparing for potential unrest following Zuma’s death remains unverified, while uncertainty persists over the former president’s health.