As the dust settled after the June 30 marches, the government remains vigilant and prepared to address any fallout while reinforcing citizens’ rights to protest peacefully.
Image: Itumeleng English / ANA Studio
As the June 30 countrywide marches drew to a close, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia assured South Africans of the authorities' commitment to enforcing the law following the largely peaceful protests.
Addressing the media during a status update from the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) on Tuesday evening, Cachalia praised law enforcement agencies for their commitment to maintaining peace and upholding public order throughout the day’s events.
However, the day was not without incident. The police reported the arrest of three individuals in connection with the shooting of a 17-year-old during protests in Johannesburg’s city centre.
Reports indicate that the suspects, who were allegedly armed, clashed with the protest crowd, resulting in their vehicle being stoned amid the chaos.
As a result, the army was deployed to hotspots such as Hillbrow and Yeoville by Tuesday evening. Despite this altercation, Cachalia expressed his satisfaction with the overall conduct of the police, noting the absence of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators.
"Where altercations did occur, such as in Yeoville, they were between different segments of our society rather than police versus demonstrators," he stated.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni spoke out on the pressing issue of migration during the Interministerial Committee on Migration (IMC) briefing on the same Tuesday evening.
She appealed for South Africans to unite and collectively work towards political stability, emphasising that the era of apartheid, which once complicated international relations, is over.
"There's no apartheid government destabilising any country now, 32 years on, so we must all take responsibility for ensuring political stability in our countries," she asserted.
Ntshavheni also called on African nations and their leaders to take responsibility regarding migration.
"We can’t always be blackmailed by African countries that they helped us during apartheid; it has ended; they must ensure there is political stability in their countries," she added, reinforcing the need for shared accountability.
In the same vein, Minister of Justice and chairperson of the IMC, Mmamoloko Kubayi, acknowledged both marchers and law enforcement officials for their roles in facilitating peaceful demonstrations against irregular migration across the country.
Reflecting on the day’s events, she expressed appreciation for all South Africans who participated responsibly in the protests.
"We commend citizens, community leaders, organisers, civil society formations, religious leaders and law enforcement agencies for their commitment to peace, restraint, and respect for the rule of law throughout the country," Kubayi stated.