Law enforcement agencies have mobilised resources to ensure that the countryside protests over illegal immigration remain peaceful.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Despite most of the protests leading up to the June 30 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa remaining incident-free, Gauteng police Commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni has confirmed several arrests, including an unidentified leader of Monday's Soweto March.
On Tuesday morning, Mthombeni confirmed that a total of eight individuals were arrested in relation to protests linked to illegal immigration. Among those apprehended was an unidentified leader of the protest, alongside four others, following a confrontation with a foreign-owned shop associated with looting allegations. Furthermore, at Moffat View in Rosettenville, four more arrests were made after public disorder arising from a house robbery involving a specific nationality.
"Following an incident where a leader confronted a foreign-owned shop for looting, law enforcement arrested the leader and four other suspects. In Moffat View an incident occurred involving a specific nationality involved in a house robbery, ultimately leading to public disorder. Authorities managed to arrest four individuals at this location. The total number of arrests since June 28 is eight in connection with these events."
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and chairperson of the Interministerial Committee on Migration (IMC), Mmamoloko Kubayi and other officials briefed the media on the preparedness of law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safety of all South Africans today.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
In contrast, on Tuesday morning, as countrywide protests were set to get under way, the streets across Soweto, Johannesburg, and neighbouring areas were largely deserted. Many businesses operating in Mayfair and the city centre remained closed as fears of the protests lingered, while the usually bustling city centre reflected the mood of the day.
The Interministerial Committee on Migration (IMC), alongside the Gauteng Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJoints), met early on Tuesday in Mayfair, Johannesburg, where key figures, including Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, joined discussions focused on ensuring compliance and addressing citizen concerns regarding immigration policies. Kubayi indicated that authorities will continue to monitor and facilitate the situation, underlining the government's commitment to enforcing laws while maintaining public order.
Kubayi, who attended a press briefing alongside Mthombeni and acting national police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, emphasised the rights of citizens to protest peacefully. She reaffirmed the importance of public demonstrations as a form of expressing dissatisfaction with governmental policies but urged those participating in protests to avoid violence.
"We commend the marchers for their communication with us and insist that their right to protest will not be inhibited. However, we appeal for peaceful demonstrations," Kubayi stated.
The IMC, ProvJoints, which includes the South African Police Service (SAPS), State Security Agency (SSA), and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), are actively reviewing security measures in the region ahead of further planned protests on June 30, 2026.
As authorities gear up for continued oversight leading to further protests planned for June 30, 2026, Kubayi assured citizens that security measures are being reviewed proactively. "Today, we want to reiterate their right to protest and express themselves when they are unhappy with their government. That right will not be taken away from them," she reiterated.
Both the national and provincial structures have assured the public that ongoing operations aim to uphold safety for all South Africans, including those mandated to leave the country under current migration laws.
Meanwhile, on Monday, March and March Movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma called on the police to swiftly act against those who will try to use today's anti-illegal immigration protest marches across the country to loot or cause violence, saying: "(Tuesday's) protests are about the country's future, and they should not be hijacked by opportunists."