- The government has announced that 30 June 2026 will be a normal working day. It also states that the State is ready to protect everyone in South Africa.
- Police have increased operations and warned that any form of xenophobic violence or intimidation will face strict legal consequences.
- Protest organisers assure that their demonstrations will be peaceful, and civil society groups encourage South Africans to reject misinformation and xenophobia.
The government has declared 30 June 2026 a normal working day. It warned that any acts of intimidation, violence, or disruption will meet the full force of the law.
This announcement was made by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration during its regular meeting to review the government’s response to irregular migration on Friday, 26 June 2026.
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamaloko Kubayi stated that the State is fully prepared to protect everyone in South Africa. “Law enforcement is the responsibility of the State. Thus, we are ready to protect every person, citizens and foreign nationals, against abuse and intimidation. We declare 30 June 2026 as a normal day for the country,” Kubayi said.
She stressed that while concerns about illegal migration should be handled through legal processes, no individual or group has the right to enforce immigration laws.
Government warns against vigilantism
The IMC stated that no unauthorised individuals are allowed to request identity documents or proof of nationality from the public. It also warned that blocking access to schools, hospitals, clinics, or other public facilities is illegal.
Kubayi stated that violence, intimidation, vigilantism, xenophobia, hate speech, and the spread of misinformation, including fake news on social media, will be prosecuted. She mentioned that law enforcement agencies have ramped up intelligence-led operations across the country amid rising public tensions.
According to the IMC, there have been 89 incidents related to public order and incitement reported as criminal cases by 21 June. This is an increase from 53 in the previous week. A total of 164 people have been arrested for offences like incitement to violence and violations of the Regulation of Gatherings Act. A total of 36 cases are already in court.
The South African Police Service also detained over 5,000 people for immigration-related offences during Operation Shanela in the week ending 15 June.
Kubayi condemned recent anti-immigration protests that included looting in parts of the Free State. She said attacks on people based on their nationality are criminal acts.
She added that the government has worked with social media platforms regarding manipulated videos and images related to the 30 June mobilisation. These appear aimed at inciting violence and damaging South Africa’s international reputation.
While freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are protected by the Constitution, Kubayi said these rights do not cover inciting violence or promoting hatred. “We repeat that 30 June 2026 will be a normal day for the country. Economic and social activities will not be disrupted,” she stated.
Organisers promise peaceful demonstrations
As the government escalates security preparations, the organisers of the planned 30 June shutdown insist their campaign will remain peaceful.
The coalition, which includes March and March, Operation Dudula, and United South Africa, is calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by Tuesday, 30 June. More than 20 anti-migrant organisations and civil groups stated at a media briefing in Midrand on Wednesday that the planned shutdown aims to initiate mass action to pressure the government to tighten immigration controls.
Reading a joint statement, United South Africa president Musa Hlongwa said, “No one will be violated” and “no looting will take place” in the name of the organisers. The coalition also urged supporters not to damage property during the demonstrations.
The groups are asking the government to strengthen border controls, increase funding for the Border Management Authority and the Department of Home Affairs, expand deportations of undocumented foreign nationals, and reserve township economic opportunities for South African citizens.
Police are ready to protect all communities
Earlier on Friday, Acting National Police Commissioner Justice Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane addressed a law enforcement readiness parade at FNB Stadium. She told officers that they have been deployed to safeguard communities while upholding constitutional rights.
“We must protect the constitutional rights of all people, including the right to peaceful protest and lawful assembly,” Dimpane said. “We are not deploying against citizens. We are deploying to ensure that lawful activities take place safely and peacefully.”
She advised officers to remain disciplined if faced with individuals trying to provoke them. “There may be people who try to test your patience, challenge your authority, or provoke confrontation. Stay disciplined. Stay professional. Stay focused. Always operate within your mandate and according to the law.”
Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo reinforced the government’s stance, stating that every person in South Africa is entitled to constitutional protection. “The starting point is straightforward: every person in South Africa, whether a citizen, refugee, asylum seeker, documented or undocumented foreign national, is entitled to protection under our Constitution and our laws,” she said.
Boshielo also noted that immigration laws will continue to be enforced fairly. “Our law enforcement agencies must arrest and deport those who are unlawfully present, but they need to do so fairly and transparently.”
She issued a firm warning against vigilantism. “There will be no tolerance for vigilantism, no tolerance for xenophobic or any violence, no tolerance for intimidation, and no tolerance for anyone, regardless of who they are, who thinks they can decide who may or may not reside in our communities.”
The Deputy Minister instructed officers to investigate threats and incitement, identify organisers where there is evidence, and make arrests when legally justified.
Civil society urges calm
The Consortium for Refugees and Migrants South Africa (CoRMSA), along with Africa Unite, told the Parliamentary Symposium on Migration and Social Cohesion that migration should not be blamed for unemployment, poverty, inequality, crime, or service delivery failures.
The organisations called for evidence-based and compassionate migration policies, stronger asylum systems, safer migration pathways, and greater regional cooperation within the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. They also urged the government to bolster social cohesion, counter misinformation, and prevent xenophobia and violence ahead of the planned 30 June demonstrations.
Several human rights organisations also called for calm
Lawyers for Human Rights stated, “We reject xenophobia. We reject scapegoating. We reject misinformation. We reject the so-called 30 June deadline and affirm dignity, solidarity, and the protection of human rights for all.”
Amnesty International South Africa said that the government, not migrants, refugees, or asylum seekers, should be held accountable for tackling poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia reiterated that the widely circulated “30 June deadline” has no legal foundation.
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