Deputy National Police Commissioner responsible for policing, Tebello Mosikili, has urged South Africans not to carry dangerous weapons, including traditional weapons, during planned marches on the 30th of June.
Mosikili was speaking during a media briefing together with Acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, about the security plans ahead of the planned nationwide demonstrations against illegal immigration. This comes amid growing tensions over illegal immigration and renewed calls for a national shutdown by the anti-illegal immigration group March and March.
Mosikili says there will be no exceptions when it comes to enforcing laws that prohibit the carrying of weapons.
“If the law says do not carry a weapon it means a weapon and from operational point of view that somebody next door will feel threatened if you have such instrument that includes a spear, you are marching why are do you carry a spear while marching because you are not at war, jamboks, air guns any kind of weapon, there are other means that can be used to control the crowd. This is prohibited and cannot be debated.”
Cachalia, says government supports the right to peaceful protest, but will not tolerate criminality, intimidation, or acts that threaten public order.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has elevated its operational readiness across all provinces with comprehensive deployment plans in place to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and key public spaces.
There will be daily operational assessments, and continuous monitoring of the security environment, to ensure that our deployment remains responsive, to emerging just daily briefings will allow law enforcement, to adjust operational plans, be necessary, and ensure that adequate resources are deployed at all times.
Cachalia has revealed that R600-million has been redirected from SAPS to the special operation to ensure operational readiness. He says the situation is placing a strain on resources, requiring additional support.
“Some of the protest action, as other costs, we have a situation, that we have to deal with the fallout in the region. Damage to South Africa’s reputation, in our region, our continent, and globally, of what people are seeing in the country, which undermines our ability to create jobs, to grow the economy, and so forth, and to promote regional security. We need to be able to cooperate with other governments in the region in order to control migration. If they don’t trust us, if that relationship breaks down, then our ability to control migration is also undermined.”
Officials say SAPS will meet with premiers, MECs and mayors in every province to maintain order. Defence Minister, Angie Motshekga, confirmed that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is on alert.
She stated that soldiers will only deploy if the police request assistance.
“As defence our role is around key points including provinces like Gauteng, KZN, Western Cape and Eastern Cap and also airports.”
With just eight days to go until the 30th of June, police are calling on all participants to act responsibly and contribute to peaceful and orderly marches.
SAPS, Defence brief media on plans for June 30
Credit: Lerato Makola
About the Author
