Pretoria protests remain largely peaceful despite anti-foreigner chants

Police strategy and private sector cooperation praised for preventing unrest during anti-immigrant marches

Experts have commended law enforcement's handling of recent countrywide anti-immigrant protests, contrasting it with the 2021 unrest. Willem Els, a senior criminologist from the Institute for Security Studies, highlighted the proactive strategy of the acting police minister, effective public communication, and the good work of policing sector stakeholders. He noted that the inclusion of the private sector and security companies in a holistic approach helped deter criminal elements. Els also pointed to the readiness of police and security, along with warnings about the rule of law, as contributing factors to the peaceful marches. An incident in Worcester, Western Cape, where marchers attempting to loot a shopping mall were dispersed and arrested, demonstrated this readiness. Mike Bolhuis, a specialist investigator, described the protest day as "under extreme control by the government," crediting government and private security services, and public cooperation. Witness Maluleke, a senior criminologist from the University of Limpopo, observed high police visibility in Johannesburg, Polokwane, and Pretoria CBDs, noting that protesters were peaceful and no injuries or human rights infringements were reported. Maluleke also commended the march organizers for ensuring the protection of human life and conveying their message without violence.