South African police launch R600 million operation to counter anti-immigrant unrest ahead of June 30 deadline
via The Namibian4 min read
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced a special operation costing over R600 million to address potential unrest related to anti-immigrant protests scheduled for June 30. Cachalia, alongside Defence Minister Angie Motshekga and acting national commissioner of the South African Police Service SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, warned against lawlessness, stating that violence, intimidation, and destruction of property will not be tolerated. This initiative follows recent attacks on foreign nationals, including the killing of a Malawian man in Pietermaritzburg and two Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay, amidst ongoing anti-immigrant campaigns by groups like March and March. SAPS has increased operational readiness across all nine provinces, with KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape identified as potential hotspots. Protesters are required to provide advance notice of their plans and ensure participants are unarmed. Cachalia urged national and local leaders to support SAPS efforts and called on South Africans to reject violence. Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi and Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Thandi Moraka met with the prime minister of the Zulu Kingdom, Inkosi Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to seek support from traditional leadership. President Cyril Ramaphosa also met with faith-based organizations to discuss immigration. SAPS may request support from the South African National Defence Force
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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