By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider

Tensions continue to escalate as the planned anti-immigration protest draws closer on 30 June, as protestors have gone on to accuse the government of “gaslighting” as well as threatening South African citizens instead of taking action against the mounting illegal immigrant crisis. 

These accusations stem following acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia’s warning which was issued on Monday stating that while citizens hold the constitutional right to peaceful protesting, the demonstrators should not resort to extreme measures by propagating property damage or violence and that anyone who breaches this warning will be met with the “full might of the law”.

This upcoming June 30 March has triggered massive security concerns specifically across the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) cluster.

The organisers of the march however have dismissed Cachalia’s warnings as being tone deaf to the actual crisis at hand. Cachalia stated that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has increased its readiness across the country and added that the military will be included in order to provide necessary reinforcement should the march escalate to chaos. 

“Should the operational environment require additional capacity. SAPS may request the support of the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) to augment existing policing capacity”.

Cachalia has also stated that he is coordinating with Defense Minister Angie Mosthekga in setting these mechanisms in place. The government also intends to work in tandem with the premiers of all nine provinces to ensure that these services are uninterrupted and functioning and they have already met with the leadership of Zulu Royal House.

“We acknowledge that many South Africans have genuine concerns about issues affecting our country. The government hears those concerns. However, those concerns must always be expressed lawfully” said Cachalia. 

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and March, has expressed dismay to these warnings issued by the government as she conveyed her disappointment by stating that the government is more concerned with threatening its citizens rather than putting a stop to law breakers. 

“I think our government has a serious communication problem…The one thing I’m not understanding is why the government of South Africa is not addressing the real issue, which is the illegal immigration crisis and foreign nationals who are buying documents and corruptly getting onto the system” said Ngobese-Zuma. 

“If you feel like threatening anyone, threaten the illegal immigrants who are in the country illegally. Threaten your own officials who are selling off documents. Threaten government officials who haven’t been doing their job” said Ngobese-Zuma.

“Don’t tell us about xenophobia or Afrophobia or ethnic mobilisation. Tell us about the crisis of illegal immigrants in the country and how you are going to fix it. That’s what we want to hear” she said.