Image Source: The Citizen
Local – The long-anticipated day has arrived, and many South Africans, including immigrants, have been fearful for their lives, their families and their businesses.
Thoughts of previous unrest, which led to xenophobic attacks, looting and other criminality, have lingered as the country braced for nationwide demonstrations against undocumented immigration.
Chairperson of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures (Natjoints), Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, warned that law enforcement would not tolerate violence. She said there was a firm line between protest and criminality.
“There is a clear distinction between exercising democratic rights and committing criminal offences. Anyone who crosses that line must expect the full and immediate consequences of the law,” she said.
Nationwide Deployment On Standby
Operational structures across the country had moved to round-the-clock readiness, with officers deployed in every province and specialised units placed on standby. Command centres, including the Natjoints and Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures, were operating around the clock to coordinate the response.
Public Order Policing units had taken up position alongside specialised operational teams ready to respond at a moment’s notice, while intelligence structures monitored developments in real time to guide commanders on the ground. Mosikili said the State would not allow disruption of daily life or essential services.
“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 business,” she said.
A Message Of Reassurance And Warning
The government had prepared for the day, with contingency plans tested and law enforcement positioned to respond quickly should any gathering turn unlawful. Mosikili said those planning to protest peacefully would be protected, while those considering unlawful action were cautioned against it.
She said the distinction between the two groups was clear in the eyes of the law, and peaceful demonstrators had nothing to fear from the security presence expected across the country.
“To those who intend to break the law tomorrow, 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,” she said.
More than 25,000 foreign nationals have been repatriated, with buses travelling under a strict law-enforcement escort and passing through verification checkpoints along their routes.
