Undocumented Malawians at the Durban Drive-in site, where local authorities are working on repatriation efforts. South Africans who harbour or employ illegal immigrants could face fines of R10,000 per person and possible criminal charges as authorities prepare for anti-illegal immigration protests on 30 June.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo/ ANA Studio
South Africans who harbour or employ illegal immigrants could face fines of R10,000 per person and possible criminal charges as authorities prepare for anti-illegal immigration protests on 30 June.
That’s a warning from Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni.
The warning comes as authorities ramp up security ahead of planned demonstrations next week on Tuesday targeting undocumented foreign nationals.
The Gauteng Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJOINTS) briefed the media at Eldorado Park police station on Thursday on its state of readiness for the protests, which are calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Mthombeni said police would not only target undocumented foreign nationals but also those assisting them in evading immigration laws.
“You South Africans, you are the people who are taking these people, you make them occupy your business, you want money. So for that, if we find you busy doing that, if you are harbouring an illegal immigrant,” he said.
He warned that harbouring or employing illegal immigrants carries severe penalties.
“Harbouring an illegal immigrant and employing an illegal immigrant is a heavy fine. I was discussing this yesterday, and the Department of Home Affairs clearly indicated to me that one person is R10,000,” Mthombeni said.
“So you must be warned. At a later stage, we may come and knock on your door and say you are under arrest. I think you have seen it in what is currently happening in the country.
“There are people who think they can get away with it. Ultimately, when they get arrested, some of them find it difficult to get away. So do not get involved in that,” he said.
The top cop also warned that anyone inciting violence or breaking the law during the anti-illegal immigration protests would be tracked and arrested as police deploy helicopters, drones and more than 33,000 CCTV cameras across the province.
Authorities will monitor developments both on the ground and from the air, he said.
“We are making arrangements to deploy helicopters and drones.
“Indeed, we have mobilised extensively, and we will have what is called a downlink so that we can observe activities as they happen in real time.
“The drones and helicopters will be able to identify who is doing what. So, if you get arrested, do not say you were not warned.”
The provincial commissioner said police would make full use of available technology and warned that lawbreakers would not evade accountability.
“We have more than 33,000 CCTV cameras. We cannot take any warning lightly in the course of our daily duties. Whenever we receive information about a possible protest, we prepare accordingly.
“You cannot wake up and assume the issue has died down. We are prepared and have planned accordingly with all our stakeholders, including the community.”
Mthombeni called for cooperation between residents and law enforcement agencies.
“We are here as inhabitants helping one another, and everyone is concerned. Ensuring that we work together is important.
“The whole-of-government approach I have outlined will clearly assist us. We are calling on all inhabitants to work together. You might be in a space where we are not, but rest assured that we have mobilised helicopters and other resources.
“I am grateful that we have these resources within the province, with Business Against Crime South Africa making that commitment and pledge alongside the security industry.
“We will be policing from air to ground. In other words, policing will take place both on the ground and in the air.
“We will have a downlink and, as I have indicated, drones. Business Against Crime South Africa has also committed a significant number of drones.
“From the government side, I am confident that, with the drones available and the trained drone pilots within the province, we will be in a strong position to manage the situation.
“We have drone pilots within the Department of Community Safety and a significant number within the South African Police Service. We will use these technologies to our advantage, along with CCTV cameras, which will support our public order policing operations.”
Meanwhile, at a media briefing in Midrand on Wednesday, more than 20 anti-migrant organisations and civil society groups involved in the protests pledged that the demonstrations would be peaceful and would not result in violence, looting or loss of life.
However, March and March movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said her organisation would not take responsibility if anything went wrong during the protests.
She argued that maintaining public order is the responsibility of the state.