As preparations continue for a nationwide shutdown scheduled for 30 June focused on illegal immigration concerns, Dr. Bandile Masuku, who chairs the Gauteng Community Safety Portfolio Committee, has called for peaceful demonstration while outlining key law enforcement priorities in the province.
Masuku acknowledged the legitimacy of public concerns surrounding undocumented migration but stressed that any public action must avoid the destruction and looting that characterized the July 2021 civil unrest. “We are not incognizant of what the concerns of our citizens are around the issues of illegal immigrants,” he said, adding that the committee hopes the planned demonstration “would be peaceful and would not be marked by violence or criminal activity.”
He also addressed circulating reports of potential retaliatory threats shared on social media platforms, warning that cycles of revenge must not be allowed to take hold. According to Masuku, the march has been communicated as a citizen-led effort to raise policy concerns—not to target specific individuals or foreign nationals.
On the question of political party participation, Masuku noted that both ActionSA and the MK party have publicly aligned themselves with the planned marches. While recognizing that immigration is a sensitive electoral issue globally, he cautioned against politicization. “We are worried that political parties will use this as part of electioneering,” he stated, emphasizing that sustainable solutions require government enforcement and structured processes—not political posturing. He pointed to regulatory frameworks in the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia as examples of how nations can manage foreign labor migration in an orderly, economically beneficial manner.
Masuku underscored that resolving immigration-related grievances involves multi-step government procedures: registration verification, lawful deportation processes, and detention protocols for those found to be in the country illegally or engaged in criminal conduct. “These issues cannot be resolved overnight,” he explained. “They require a process that will be facilitated by government.”
The committee chairperson also addressed newly released provincial crime data. While Gauteng has recorded a sustained downward trend in overall crime rates, it remains the province contributing the highest volume of incidents nationally. Masuku highlighted specific violent crime categories demanding urgent attention: murder and assault, particularly those involving interpersonal violence such as beatings and stabbings.
He identified licensed entertainment venues where alcohol is served as a recurring factor in assault incidents, signaling that the portfolio committee would intensify scrutiny of licensing practices for such establishments.
Discussion also turned to tensions surrounding spaza shops in township communities. Masuku referenced past community actions in areas like Soweto, where residents moved to support locally owned informal retailers. However, he drew attention to a more complex underlying issue: suspected criminal syndicates believed to operate within the spaza shop sector, some involving foreign nationals. “These are syndicates that need to be broken apart, and this requires a lot of intelligence,” he said, expressing confidence that police investigations would lead to arrests. He connected this concern to the recent kidnapping of a spaza shop owner in Soweto, which he indicated was linked to such organized networks.
Masuku concluded by reaffirming the committee’s oversight role: ensuring that government delivers on enforcement commitments while creating economic opportunities for South Africans. He urged all stakeholders to prioritize dialogue, lawful conduct, and evidence-based policy responses as the 30 June date approaches.