CAPE TOWN - Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says police are ready to keep the country safe on 30 June.
He was speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday in Cape Town, where he outlined the preparedness ahead of the deadline.
This comes amid calls by anti-illegal immigration groups demanding the removal of undocumented foreign nationals by month-end.
"The right to protest shouldn't be used as an excuse for criminality and abusive behaviour," Cachalia said.
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"Only the police and other officials have the responsibility to enforce the law in a constitutional democracy. We cannot afford a repeat of what happened on July 2021. And in this case, we also have situations where people are making inflammatory statements on social media, statements that they are going to expel people from our country themselves on the 30th. And we see that kind of behaviour already. It's a minority phenomenon."
Cachalia said the Western Cape has had about 30 marches, six which were accompanied by violence.
"The minister of police can't take the posture which says, well, whatever happens on the 30th is acceptable. My responsibility is to make sure that our people and the resources of the police is mobilised to keep the country safe."
Cachalia said while the army has not been deployed, the the need to call up the troops will arise in an instance where their services are needed to protect critical infrastructure