PRETORIA - Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has warned against violence and lawlessness during protests.
She said while people have a right to demonstrate, they must do so within the confines of the law.
Durban and Johannesburg have been in the grip of demonstrations that turned violent,
as protesters reacted to the Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications.
“While you exercise your right to express your dissatisfaction, it is not correct to want to infringe on other people's rights. So, we want to reiterate, those who march, those who want to exercise their right to protest, please do that within the restraint and the confines of the law. Don't violate other people's rights.
“Don't destroy properties. Don't go and disrupt other people's lives. Don't threaten people, because that is unlawful. We will actually ask the law enforcement agencies, as they do, to ensure that there's law and order. And this happens because many times when we do this, then you find an outcry to say the law enforcement agencies in South Africa are actually acting against South Africans.
“It's not true. We're acting against illegal action. Whether you are South African or non-South African, when you commit a crime, we can't negotiate a crime. A crime is a crime. There's no negotiation. When you commit a crime, the people that you will meet, it will be police officers, the magistrates or the judges, not Minister of Justice, not Minister of Police,” she said.