The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) on Tuesday demanded full transparency, accountability, and an immediate explanation for the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and police, to Matatiele, in the Eastern Cape, where protestors are demanding justice following the alleged rape of a seven-year-old child.

The EFF condemned in the “strongest possible terms the unlawful deployment” of the SANDF, saying Parliament must not be complicit in President Cyril Ramaphosa's “descent into authoritarianism”.

The party said this deployment appeared to have occurred without the constitutionally required communication from the President to Parliament.

“As per Section 201(2) and 201(3) of the Constitution, the President must inform Parliament of the reasons, scope, and duration of any military deployment, however, no such correspondence has been made public,” the EFF explained.

ActionSA affirmed that, to date, no such notice to Parliament had been furnished.

The parties have written to Speaker of National Assembly Thoko Didiza demanding urgent answers on what they termed the "unlawful deployment" of the SANDF.

The EFF described the event  as “State-sponsored intimidation” and a “declaration of war” against the young and voiceless.

“These are not criminals nor terrorists. These are young people, some still in primary school, who have taken up the noble cause of defending the dignity and humanity of a seven-year-old child whose pain and trauma has been met with silence, confusion, and cover-up by the institutions meant to protect them,” the party said.

The EFF pointed out that Ramaphosa had not directly addressed the rape case despite it becoming a national issue.

“He has not visited Matatiele. He has not consoled the family. He has not held any official accountable. But he finds the audacity to unleash armed soldiers on children who are fighting against a scourge of sexual violence that torments them every day,” the EFF said.

The party accused the State of silencing the truth through fear and force.

“The youth of Matatiele are showing the nation what bravery looks like. They are standing where Ramaphosa has run away. They are fighting for [the rape victim], and in so doing, fighting for every child who has ever been silenced by rape, by shame, or by State repression,” the EFF stated.