Cachalia forms task team to protect mosques after immigration raids unsettle worshippers

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has established a dedicated task team to guide law enforcement activity around places of worship after immigration enforcement operations caused anxiety among congregants, the United Ulama Council of South Africa (UUCSA) said.

Meeting with Muslim leadership

Cachalia met with the UUCSA following a letter from the council that highlighted specific incidents in which South African Police Service (Saps) immigration enforcement operations unsettled worshippers. The raids created a perception that places of worship were becoming focal points for immigration-related enforcement activities.

ANC MP Imraan Subrathie attended and participated in the meeting discussions.

Task team mandate and membership

Cachalia’s spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi, said the minister announced the creation of a task team made up of representatives from the UUCSA, the Saps operational environment, and the Ministry of Police.

The task team will be mandated to develop practical protocols to guide the execution of law enforcement operations so that the law is enforced effectively while minimising disruption during religious ceremonies and safeguarding the dignity and sanctity of places of worship.

Reporting and operational follow-up

Mogotsi said the task team will provide reports to Cachalia and to the leadership of the UUCSA. Cachalia also indicated he would engage the acting National Commissioner of the Saps, who would in turn engage provincial commissioners so the outcomes of the engagement inform operational leadership and contribute to greater consistency in policing practices across the country.

Wider context

The announcement comes amid wider tensions involving attacks on foreign nationals and looting of foreign-owned shops. The country has seen incidents in which foreign nationals have been targeted and foreign-owned businesses looted as some South Africans blamed immigrants for problems such as crime and unemployment.

Earlier this week, Nigeria urged South Africa to do more to prevent xenophobic attacks on African migrants. The two countries met to try to cool tensions, and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola led a mission to Abuja aimed at repairing strained relations between the two nations.