Security has been tightened ahead of planned June 30 demonstrations as government urges South Africans to respect the rule of law.
As South Africa prepares for planned anti-illegal immigration protests on June 30, the government has stepped up security measures while appealing for calm and warning that the rule of law will be enforced.
The demonstrations, organised by anti-illegal immigration groups including March and March, follow weeks of mobilisation around a self-imposed deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
Although organisers have described the campaign as a demand for stricter immigration enforcement, government, political analysts and civil society organisations have warned that the rhetoric surrounding the protests has already heightened fear, intimidation and displacement among migrant communities, including refugees, asylum seekers and documented foreign nationals.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma had not responded to questions by the time of publication regarding expected protest hotspots, security arrangements, the movement's stance against violence and whether demonstrations would continue beyond June 30.
