South African law enforcement authorities have raised alert levels across multiple provinces as demonstrations targeting undocumented foreign nationals intensify. Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane, alongside NATJOINTS command leadership, cautioned the public against engaging in unlawful activities during a press briefing held in the wake of fatal violence in Mossel Bay.
Police characterized the weekend disturbances in Mossel Bay as vigilante-style assaults directed at foreign nationals, occurring against a backdrop of heightened public anxiety regarding irregular migration. In response, intelligence units have expanded surveillance efforts in locations identified as high-risk for further escalation.
Clarifying conflicting casualty reports, police officials stated that only two murder investigations in the Mossel Bay area are currently being pursued as potentially protest-related. This position differs from statements issued by the Mozambican government, which reported that five of its citizens lost their lives during the unrest. Law enforcement reaffirmed its role as the authoritative source for verified incident statistics. According to the national health department, post-mortem procedures on three deceased individuals have been completed, with investigators linking only two of these cases to the recent violence.
Commissioner Dimpane and a senior police official underscored that constitutional protections for peaceful assembly do not extend to acts of coercion, destruction, or harm. While acknowledging that citizens may hold legitimate concerns about migration, leadership stressed that such grievances must be expressed within legal boundaries. “The right to protest does not permit the violation of others’ rights or the taking of life,” the statement read.
Operational measures include enhanced monitoring of social media platforms to identify hate speech or calls to violence, alongside tracking of organized groups connected to the demonstrations. The Acting Commissioner noted that police responses to scattered protests nationwide have been effective, and that frontline officers and provincial commands are receiving coordinated direction from national headquarters on managing complex situations involving both local residents and foreign nationals.
On the humanitarian front, authorities confirmed that nearly 100 displaced individuals are temporarily housed at a community facility in Mossel Bay. Police clarified that over half of those sheltered lack valid immigration documentation. A provincial commissioner noted that while humanitarian considerations guide their immediate accommodation, their presence remains in violation of the Immigration Act. The Department of Home Affairs has indicated it will strengthen enforcement measures to address the status of undocumented foreign nationals in affected communities.