Major General Mzikayise Joseph Tyhalisi
Image: Facebook/SAPS
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, NATJOINTS Chairperson, assured South Africans that where criminality appeared during Tuesday's protest against illegal immigration, they would respond "swiftly, proportionally and decisively" within the confines and framework of the law.
She spoke during the NATJOINTS media briefing on Monday night about their state of readiness ahead of Tuesday's protest against illegal immigration.
"To those who intend to break the law, our message is simple: do not test the resolve of the State. To those who intend to demonstrate peacefully, we assure you that your constitutional rights will be protected. To every South African, be confident that your safety remains on our highest order and highest priority," said Mosikili.
She said the security cluster was united, its members deployed, and its operations fully underway.
"We are ready in terms of safety and security... This briefing marks the conclusion of weeks of meticulous planning, intelligence gathering, operational coordination, and deployment operations undertaken by the justice and crime prevention and security cluster.
"The message from the security cluster and supporting clusters such as your economic cluster and social development cluster are clear and non-negotiable. The state is ready. Law enforcement is ready. South Africa is ready. Contingency plans have been tested and simulated throughout the months of planning. There will be no security vacuum."
Mosikili said there was a clear distinction between exercising democratic rights and committing a criminal offence. She said coordinators of the marches and demonstrators assured South Africans that the plan was for peaceful demonstrations.
"Anyone who crosses that line must expect full and immediate consequences of law. No individual or group will be allowed to undermine the authority of the State. No one will be allowed to intimidate communities. No one will be allowed to shut down the economy. No one will be allowed to prevent law abiding citizens from going to work, attending school, accessing healthcare facilities or conducting daily business.
"No one will be permitted to damage infrastructure, loot businesses, attack law enforcement officers or incite violence. No dangerous weapons such as firearms, knives and traditional weapons will be allowed."
Mosikili and the NATJOINTS Co-Chair, Major General Mzikayise Joseph Tyhalisi, warned against criminality and carrying weapons for the demonstrations saying: “Non‑dangerous weapons such as firearms, knives, and traditional weapons are permitted only within the provisions of Section 70 of the Constitution. When we demonstrate, assemble, petition, and express our freedom of expression, we must do so peacefully and unarmed.
"The Dangerous Weapons Act defines objects that may inflict bodily harm. Carrying such weapons is prohibited. The same applies to anyone who seeks to exploit demonstrations to commit acts of lawlessness. This is non‑negotiable terrain."