Government praises peaceful migration protests and warns looters will face prosecution

The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) has praised South Africans for largely peaceful migration-related demonstrations held this week while warning that those who used the protests to loot or commit other crimes will be arrested and prosecuted.

Government thanks peaceful protesters

In a statement on Tuesday, GCIS said most of the migration-related protests across the country “remained peaceful, with law enforcement agencies responding only to isolated incidents of looting and attempted looting.”

“Government wishes to express its appreciation to all South Africans who exercised their constitutional right to protest peacefully and responsibly during today’s migration-related demonstrations,” the statement said.

GCIS also “commended citizens, community leaders, organisers, civil society formations, religious leaders and law enforcement agencies for their commitment to peace, restraint and respect for the rule of law throughout the country.”

Warning to those who committed crimes

While describing policing operations as effective, the government confirmed police had responded to isolated incidents involving looting and attempted looting, and warned that “those who chose to exploit the marches to commit criminal acts will face the full might of the law. Police will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible for criminal conduct.”

The GCIS statement welcomed “the fact that most participants rejected violence, vigilantism, intimidation, provocation, looting and damage to property,” and said such actions “have no place in a constitutional democracy”.

Concerns on migration and the government’s response

The government acknowledged that many South Africans have genuine concerns about “unemployment, irregular migration, service delivery, border security and public safety” and said those concerns “deserve to be heard and addressed systematically through lawful and democratic processes.”

GCIS reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management. According to the statement, the plan’s five-point focus includes:

• strengthening immigration and labour law enforcement
• securing South Africa’s borders
• improving migration management systems
• closing legislative and policy gaps
• working with other African countries to tackle migration challenges collectively

Repatriations and enforcement

The government said it “continued to make progress in removing foreign nationals from affected provinces.” It gave figures: “To date, the latest statistics indicate that we have successfully repatriated 4 286 foreign nationals and deported a further 419 in the past few days.”

GCIS added that efforts to combat “criminality, corruption, human trafficking, labour exploitation and other illegal activities linked to irregular migration” would continue “within the framework of the constitution and the law.”

Call to reject misinformation and xenophobia

The government urged citizens to “remain calm, reject misinformation and xenophobia, and continue working with government and law enforcement agencies to build safe, stable and cohesive communities.”

It said it would continue to manage migration “in a manner that protects our national interest, promotes the rule of law and advances the values upon which our democracy is founded.”