Acting police minister Cachalia warns of political agenda behind anti-immigration protests

By Charmaine Ndlela, Johnathan Paoli and Lebone Rhoda Mosima

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia on Tuesday warned that South Africa’s nationwide anti-illegal immigration protests appeared to be evolving into a political campaign ahead of next year’s local government elections, as isolated outbreaks of violence in Germiston contrasted with largely peaceful demonstrations across much of the country.  

Addressing a post-protest media briefing in Pretoria, Cachalia said government recognised that South Africans had legitimate concerns about illegal immigration, crime, border management and unemployment, but the announcement by organisers that demonstrations would continue every Thursday until the local government elections suggested a broader political agenda.

“These marches will continue each Thursday until the next local government election. That suggests to me there are some involvement in mobilising sentiment around genuine grievances that are genuine, but that there is also a political dimension. That they is political dimension that this may be part