Acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane and the Natjoints have issued a strong warning against lawlessness amid protests targeting illegal foreigners,.
Image: GCIS
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane issued a strong warning against lawlessness amid protests targeting illegal foreigners, saying that only authorities can enforce immigration laws.
Dimpane reiterated that no one or group is allowed to take the law into their own hands.
The warning comes after deadly unrest linked to anti-immigrant tensions has been reported in parts of South Africa, including the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Gauteng.
In Mossel Bay’s KwaNonqaba area, violence broke out last week on Friday, May 29, in the Asla Park informal settlement, where around 55 shacks were set alight.
Police, firefighters, and disaster management teams responded and managed to restore order, though several people were displaced.
The unrest turned deadly over the weekend, with two Mozambican nationals and a 19-year-old South African, Nhlamulo Sambo, killed in separate incidents.
Police clarified that the deaths are not directly linked to immigration-related tensions.
Sambo was confronted during an alleged attempted theft and later found with stab wounds in a separate area.
Last month, Ghana began a voluntary repatriation programme, with 295 nationals returning home amid rising concerns over safety and increasing anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa.
Speaking at a media briefing in George, Western Cape, on Wednesday, Dimpane confirmed that intelligence structures have stepped up monitoring in identified high-risk areas.
She said the country is confronted by growing tensions in certain communities, including the recent incidents in Mossel Bay that have tragically claimed lives and left families grieving.
“On behalf of the South African Police Service, I wish to extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
“No grievance, frustration, or disagreement can ever justify violence, intimidation, destruction of property, or the taking of human life.”
She continued that the South African Police Service has deployed the necessary resources to affected areas and intensified operations to restore and maintain law and order.
“We are actively investigating all criminal acts related to these incidents, and those responsible will be identified, arrested, and brought before the courts.”
“I urge everyone in the country to respect the laws of this country, and if you choose to march, do so peacefully, lawfully, and with respect for the rights of others.”
National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili provided an update on the security situation, ongoing interventions, operational deployments, and measures being implemented to safeguard all people living in the country.
“Ladies and gentlemen, South Africa is governed by the Constitution and the rule of law, not by intimidation, violence, ultimatums, or mob justice.”
“Therefore, no individual, movement, organisation or grouping has the authority to take the law into its own hands, conduct unlawful operations, intimidate communities, target individuals based on their nationality, or seek to enforce immigration laws outside the framework of the law,” she said.
“The responsibility for maintaining public order, combating crime and enforcing immigration legislation rests exclusively with duly authorised law enforcement agencies acting within the confines of the Constitution and the law.”
According to her, over the past week, law enforcement agencies have demonstrated their commitment to protecting the rule of law through decisive action against those engaged in public violence and criminal conduct.
She said in the Free State, 166 individuals have been arrested for offences linked to public violence and related criminal activities.
“In the Western Cape, five suspects have been arrested in connection with incidents of violence and intimidation.”
National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili has warned against lawlessness amid rising protests targeting illegal foreigners.
Image: File Picture: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
She commended detectives for the swift arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of Sambo.
“A 23-year-old suspect was arrested yesterday afternoon and remains in police custody. The speed with which investigators acted demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that perpetrators of violent crime are identified and brought before the courts.”
“We further wish to clarify that, based on the information currently at our disposal, the death of Mr Sambo is not linked to the recent unrest in the area. We therefore urge the public to refrain from speculation and the spreading of misinformation, and to allow the investigation to proceed unhindered.”
According to her, in the past three weeks alone, more than 5 000 illegal immigrants have been arrested for contravening the Immigration Act.
“Since 1st January 2026, law enforcement operations conducted across the country have resulted in the arrest of 34 798 illegal immigrants and in the previous financial year, 76 588 illegal immigrants were arrested.”
“These figures demonstrate that the government is not turning a blind eye to illegal immigration. Through intelligence-led operations, roadblocks, compliance inspections and multidisciplinary actions involving various government departments, we continue to identify, arrest and process those who are in the country unlawfully.”
She said the arrests send a clear message that those who incite violence, encourage vigilantism, threaten communities, destroy property or undermine public order will face the full consequences of the law.
“Natjoints is actively identifying, tracing and investigating individuals and networks responsible for incitement, criminal mobilisation and acts of violence.”
Mosikili said they have mobilised the necessary operational, intelligence and investigative resources to ensure accountability.
“We will not tolerate any attempt to destabilise communities, threaten national stability, disrupt economic activity or challenge the authority of the democratic State.”
“In this regard, Natjoints strongly condemns the recent violent incidents in Mossel Bay that resulted in the tragic loss of two lives during activities associated with anti-foreigner demonstrations.”
The top cop said there is no grievance, concern, frustration or cause that can justify murder, assault, intimidation, arson, looting, xenophobic attacks or any other form of criminal conduct.
“Violence is not activism. Intimidation is not community protection. Criminal conduct remains criminal conduct, regardless of the cause in whose name it is committed.”
“South Africans have every right to raise concerns regarding crime, illegal immigration and service delivery challenges. The government recognises these concerns and continues to address them through lawful and coordinated interventions.”
However, she said legitimate concerns can never become a licence for lawlessness.
“While the government acknowledges public concerns regarding illegal immigration, it is equally important to emphasise that South Africa is a sovereign constitutional democracy with established legal processes to regulate migration and enforce immigration laws.”
“Foreign nationals who enter, remain or work in South Africa unlawfully are in contravention of the Immigration Act and expose themselves to arrest, detention and deportation processes as prescribed by law.”
She said through ongoing multidisciplinary operations involving the police, the Department of Home Affairs, Border Management Authority (BMA) and other law enforcement agencies, thousands of undocumented foreign nationals continue to be identified, arrested, processed and deported in accordance with the law.
“Operations such as Operation Shanela and other targeted interventions continue to yield significant results in addressing illegal immigration, organised crime, cross-border criminality and related offences.”
Mosikili said intelligence structures have heightened monitoring and threat assessments in areas identified as potential hotspots.
“This includes the monitoring of individuals and groups suspected of mobilising communities towards unlawful conduct, inciting violence, spreading misinformation, or encouraging attacks against foreign nationals and businesses,” she added.
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