Simon Nare
President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned anti-illegal immigration protesters planning to take part in the 30 June protests that the state, not vigilante groups, is responsible for enforcing immigration laws — and that anyone who breaks the law will face the full might of the state.
Ramaphosa, answering oral questions in the National Council of Provinces on Thursday, said law enforcement agencies would be on full alert and that government had put measures in place to prevent any attempt to destabilise the country.
Anti-illegal immigration groups, including March and March, have set 30 June as the “deadline” for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Earlier this week, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said police preparations for the protests were expected to cost around R600 million. The defence force has also been placed on standby.
Ramaphosa warned: “As government, we have put in place security and other measures to deal with any attempts to destabilise our country, whether by citizens or foreign nationals, and we will not tolerate any attempts to destabilise the country by anyone, whether marching or otherwise. Our security forces are ready, and those who transgress the measures that we are putting in place will definitely meet the might of the law.”
Ramaphosa said government had warned anti-immigration groups that the responsibility for enforcing immigration laws rested with the state and that no individual may stop any person to demand documentation or proof of identity or nationality.
“There is no place for racism in our country, no place for sexism, for xenophobia, for Afrophobia, or any other form of intolerance. So, the 30th, as people are saying, all manner of things will happen, we are taking measures to ensure that the 30th becomes a normal day where people will be able to work and to go about their business,” he said.
He called for collective responsibility from political, civic and community leaders ahead of the protest.
He said those leading the marches, and leaders across society, should not be bystanders on the day.
“We lead people who have elected us to be here, so each one of us has a role to play wherever we are to ensure we call for peace, we call for calm, and where there might be people who want to destabilize the country, we should speak out.
“We should take whatever action is necessary on a legal basis and work with our security forces and work with our government officials. This is a responsibility that we all bear, but having said that, I’m able to say that our security forces will be on the ready to prevent anyone from wanting to destabilise the country,” he said.
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