An alleged internal memo by the SANDF has recently been circulated, which claims that battalions have been placed on high alert in the case of volatile unrest in the country.

The Citizen reports that the memo states the “situation in the Republic of South Africa is gradually deteriorating into unrest due to criminality that is taking place with the borders.”

“It is foreseen that the SANDF might be called to play their secondary role, and in this case, it will be to support or cooperate with the South African Police Services (SAPS).

“It is in this regard, the SA Army Infantry Formation has been ordered to go on 25-hour standby in anticipation of deploying in support or cooperation with the SAPS,” reads the document.

However, the authenticity of the document has been questioned. According to The Citizen, the author of the document, Colonel MS Rampai, has claimed the document was fake, while the SANDF spokesperson Brigadier Andries Mahapa has confirmed that it’s legitimate.

Mahapa told TimesLIVE that the order is “part of the army’s continued preparation for any eventuality.”

“The warning order is part of our military drills whether it is for exercise or deployment.”

TimesLIVE further reports that soldiers can only be deployed once they have been ordered by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Not often that an SANDF warning instruction to units gets leaked.

This appears to be legitimate, both in its formatting and content and the confirmation of key details by Erika Gibson for TimesLive.

Separately, a number of SANDF bases have gone on high security alert as well. https://t.co/xfkZsJ6Q4o

— Darren Olivier (@darren_olivier) August 8, 2022

Protests have recently increased in the West Rand after a group of women were raped in West Village, Krugersdorp. Illegal miners have been suspected to be the perpetrators.

Police Minister Bheki Cele yesterday acknowledged the community in the West Rand’s call for the SANDF to be deployed.

“The request to bring in the army will be considered, when the need arises. This process takes a long time however in the meantime, the police’s response to flush out these Zama Zama’s will continue and will be bolstered by reinforcement of these specialised units, who will be deployed here while government works on a broader plan to tackle the whole value chain of illicit mining and its benefactors.”