Deputy Minister of Police Polly Boshielo has instructed law enforcement officers to act swiftly against anyone inciting violence or xenophobic attacks ahead of the planned 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests.
Addressing a police parade outside FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Friday, Boshielo said officers have been deployed to prevent violence before it erupts, warning that anyone spreading threats on social media or organising attacks would be treated as a criminal suspect.
“We are not deploying you to respond to violence that has already happened. We are deploying you to prevent violence from happening in the first place,” she said.
Boshielo instructed police to intervene early where intelligence points to planned attacks, investigate threats, trace the origin of inflammatory messages, open criminal cases where there is evidence of incitement, and make arrests where the legal threshold has been met.
She stressed that there would be “no tolerance for vigilantism, xenophobic violence, intimidation or anyone who believes they can decide who may or may not live in South African communities.”
Boshielo reminded officers that every person in South Africa, regardless of nationality or immigration status, is entitled to protection under the Constitution, while undocumented foreign nationals must be dealt with through lawful arrest and deportation processes.
She also dismissed claims that government is doing nothing about illegal immigration, saying tens of thousands of undocumented foreign nationals are deported annually while efforts continue to strengthen border management and immigration enforcement.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi warned against attempts to hijack the planned protests.
“We are here not to intimidate anyone who is law-abiding, but to ensure that South Africans are safe,” he said.
“We share the sentiments raised by protesters and those who say 30 June is the deadline to deal with immigration matters. What we are against are those who want to hijack the genuine concerns of protesters to attack people or destroy property. We are against those who want to hide behind the protests to do anything that is against the Constitution.”
The police parade forms part of the country’s operational readiness ahead of demonstrations expected on 30 June.
