With South African police placed on heightened operational readiness ahead of planned demonstrations on June 30, the Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia says law enforcement structures are prepared to respond to any incidents of violence or disruption.
Cachalia made the remarks after receiving a high-level briefing from SAPS leadership at the Tshwane Academy College in Pretoria, where national and provincial operational plans were presented.
SAPS outlined its deployment and coordination plans aimed at ensuring that all demonstrations proceed in a “safe, secure and peaceful manner”.
Cachalia said he was satisfied with the state of readiness, noting that policing structures were aligned across national and provincial levels.
“The SAPS is operationally prepared to uphold and enforce the law,” he said following the briefing.
He added that enforcement operations and monitoring will continue daily in the build-up to the demonstrations, with authorities also identifying and assessing areas considered vulnerable to instability.
“In the coming days, we will intensify coordination across all security sectors to ensure stability and effective response capacity,” Cachalia said.
The Acting Minister is expected to meet the Minister of Defence and all nine provincial premiers next week to strengthen intergovernmental coordination, alongside engagements with the private security sector.
He said private security operators will be treated as “force multipliers” in supporting broader safety efforts during the period.
Cachalia warned that while the right to peaceful protest is constitutionally protected, any unlawful conduct will be met with enforcement action.
“The constitutional right to peaceful protest will be respected, but acts of lawlessness, violence or intimidation will not be tolerated,” he said.
He also confirmed that ongoing enforcement operations targeting immigration compliance are continuing nationwide, saying authorities will act where documentation requirements are not met.
Cachalia referenced his recent visit to the Lindela Repatriation Centre, stressing that immigration enforcement remains a state function and warning against any attempts by individuals or groups to detain undocumented foreign nationals.
“Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the state. No one has the legal right to take the law into their own hands,” he said.
Police say engagement with protest organisers is ongoing, but have cautioned that any criminal activity linked to the planned demonstrations will be dealt with through the law.
Saturday Star