CAPE TOWN, Western Cape — As South Africa braces for the highly anticipated June 30 anti-illegal immigration protests, the government has mobilized a massive R600 million police operation to maintain public order. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed the extensive security deployment, emphasizing that all law enforcement leave has been canceled to ensure a robust response to the nationwide demonstrations.
During a recent assessment visit to the Western Cape, Acting Minister Cachalia evaluated the regional security preparations. He designated the upcoming security measures as a “special operation,” praising the law enforcement agency’s professionalism and urgency. While affirming the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, Cachalia issued a stern warning against lawlessness. He stated unequivocally that the freedom to demonstrate cannot serve as a shield for criminality or abusive conduct, reiterating that in a constitutional democracy, the mandate to enforce the law rests solely with the police and authorized officials.
Beyond the security preparations, the looming June 30 deadline has triggered a surge of foreign nationals seeking voluntary departure. At the Zimbabwean consulate in Cape Town, dozens of Zimbabwean citizens have taken refuge, hoping to secure repatriation before the protests commence. The scene inside and around the facility has been highly emotional, with mothers comforting crying infants after spending the night on the premises.
Home affairs and consulate officials are working to process the crowds, but the influx continues as more individuals arrive from surrounding towns such as Robertson and Worcester. Although the gathered individuals declined to be filmed, off-camera conversations revealed that many are residing in South Africa without legal documentation. Despite their urgent desire to return home, several expressed deep frustration with the Zimbabwean government, citing a sluggish repatriation process that has left them stranded amid the escalating tensions.