Cachalia warns anti-migrant protest organisers could face civil liability

By Akani Nkuna

Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has warned that the actions of the leaders of recent widespread anti-migrant protests across the country have economic consequences, and emphasised that those leading the groups may be civilly liable and criminally charged after some of the protests were reported to have had fatalities and disruptions to properties.

Speaking during the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration briefing in Pretoria, on Friday, Cachalia said that the leaders of protests are reckless and disruptive against the national interests of citizens and country at large. He said that their actions come at a diplomatic, economic, and financial cost to South Africa.

“So those who are involved in organising this disruptive behaviour accompanied by violence — we have heard that there have been fatalities — will have to pay the costs of both their criminal actions, and they will also be held civilly liable,” he said.

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