SA police and protesters must put lives first as 30 June looms

This statement from the Institute for Security Studies warns of potential violence in South Africa surrounding a 30 June deadline set by anti-immigration groups for 'illegal' foreign nationals to leave the country. The document highlights the risk of peaceful protests degenerating into attacks by armed groups and calls for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and movement leaders to prioritize the protection of lives to avoid a tragedy similar to the 2008 xenophobic riots or the July 2021 unrest.

• Anti-immigration movements, specifically an organization called March and March, have set a 30 June deadline for 'illegal' foreign nationals to leave South Africa and have called for a national shutdown on that date. This has already resulted in vigilante attacks, the eviction of people from homes, the deaths of three foreign nationals, and assaults on journalists.
• There is a significant risk that protests may escalate into widespread violence resembling the May 2008 xenophobic riots—which saw 62 deaths and over 100,000 displacements—or the July 2021 unrest in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. While formal representatives of over 20 anti-immigration organizations have distanced themselves from violence, social media communication often encourages brutality, and some leaders suggest they cannot control their supporters.
• The South African Police Service (SAPS) and security sector are taking pre-emptive steps to manage the 30 June mobilization, including deploying resources to flashpoints at an estimated cost of R600 million. The private security company Fidelity has offered support via personnel, armored vehicles, helicopters, and drones, while the South African National Defence Force may be mobilized if the situation escalates.
• A critical risk factor is that protesters are often illegally armed with spears, sticks, and sjamboks, increasing the likelihood of attacks on immigrants and their businesses. The document emphasizes that while police cannot use lethal force for property destruction, such force would be legally justified if people are attacked or killed, making the use of non-lethal equipment and deterrents like drones essential.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). SA police and protesters must put lives first as 30 June looms. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sa-police-and-protesters-must-put-lives-first-as-30-june-looms

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. SA police and protesters must put lives first as 30 June looms. n.d. https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sa-police-and-protesters-must-put-lives-first-as-30-june-looms.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=SA police and protesters must put lives first as 30 June looms |url=https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sa-police-and-protesters-must-put-lives-first-as-30-june-looms |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{instituteforsecuritystudiesndpolice, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{SA police and protesters must put lives first as 30 June looms}}, publisher = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/iss-today/sa-police-and-protesters-must-put-lives-first-as-30-june-looms}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }