For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Shomolekae.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa deploys army to KZN to curb anti-immigrant violence; Hill-Lewis warns against ‘coalition chaos’, urges Capetonians to secure DA majority; And, Ramaphosa receives final report on Iran's participation in naval exercise

Ramaphosa deploys army to KZN to curb anti-immigrant violence

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 510 members of the South African National Defence Force to KwaZulu-Natal to assist the South African Police Service under Operation Prosper.

The temporary deployment comes in response to recent outbreaks of public violence and planned anti-immigrant marches sparked by a widespread campaign of misinformation.

Ramaphosa noted that the SANDF will be on standby to support the police for “any eventuality that may occur”.

The deployment is for the period from October 9 until November 30.

Hill-Lewis warns against ‘coalition chaos’, urges Capetonians to secure DA majority

Ahead of next week's highly anticipated local government elections, DA leader and Cape Town mayoral candidate Geordin Hill-Lewis has issued a strong warning to residents against splitting their votes, urging them to keep "coalition chaos" out of the city by voting for the DA.

Speaking at a campaign announcement in Blouberg today, Hill-Lewis argued that voting for smaller parties risks opening the door for an ANC and EFF “takeover”.

He pointed to the political instability that has severely impacted Johannesburg as a cautionary tale of what could happen if a single party does not secure a decisive mandate.

Reflecting on his past five years in office, Hill-Lewis highlighted the city's recent achievements, including the addition of 418 000 jobs, the deployment of more law enforcement officers, and extensive infrastructure investment.

Looking forward, he outlined the DA's plan for the next five years, which includes establishing a dedicated Metro Police Detective Unit and cutting bureaucratic red tape to foster business growth and job creation.

He said a DA-led government would replace 100 km of water pipes and 100 km of sewer pipes yearly and source cheaper electricity from independent power producers to lower costs for residents.

And, Ramaphosa receives final report on Iran's participation in naval exercise

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially received the final report from the independent panel appointed to investigate naval drills known as "Exercise MOSI III: Will of Peace."

The Presidency confirmed that the panel, chaired by retired Justice Bernard Ngoepe, concluded its probe into how Iran’s navy participated in the joint exercises despite explicit instructions from the President prohibiting it.

The investigation was instituted in February 2026 following an apparent breakdown in the command structure during the Chinese-led "Will of Peace 2026" drills held in South African waters.

Ramaphosa had previously issued a direct instruction requesting that Iran withdraw and no longer participate in the joint exercise.

Because the investigation touches directly on defence operations, international diplomatic relations, and intelligence protocols, the Presidency has noted that the panel’s findings remain confidential owing to national security concerns.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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