South Africa on the Knife Edge as Protests Loom

A nation haunted by past unrest steels itself for another test of unity, as leaders urge calm and warn against chaos.

By CHRIS MAKHAYE

Police have been under pressure since the countdown to the 30 June deadline started

South Africa is bracing for nationwide demonstrations on June 30, as civic organisations intensify calls for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that R600 million has been allocated to strengthen security, with specialised police units deployed to regions most vulnerable to unrest. “We must not allow South Africans to be duped and misled by those who want to foster instability in our country, and we will not allow that,” he said. “The security forces in our country are going to ensure there is no instability and disruptions to the lives of our people.”

Acting Minister Cachalia, who oversaw the parade of thousands pf police officers who will the deployed in hotspots added a stern reminder to law enforcement: “Our officers must not take sides in political debates or disputes…….. Their primary duty is to protect the citizens and safeguard the country.” He warned marchers who go out of line will be dealt with harshly by the men and women in blue.

KwaZulu-Natal Warns Against Repeat of 2021

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli convened community safety forums in Durban, warning that the province cannot afford a repeat of July 2021, when protests sparked by supporters of former president Jacob Zuma spiraled into looting and violence. More than 350 people died, and billions of rand worth of property was destroyed.

“We cannot allow KwaZulu-Natal to relive the trauma of July 2021,” Ntuli said. “The province must remain vigilant and united against those who seek to exploit legitimate grievances for criminal ends.”

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba echoed the call for calm, urging communities not to take the law into their own hands. She cautioned that while marches are permitted, they must remain peaceful. “Some demonstrations, even though they were for a good cause, have been hijacked by criminal elements,” she said, pointing to the recent fatal shooting of community patrollers in Inanda as a grim reminder of the risks.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and March whose campaigns and protests in the last few months has gained traction

Roots of Anger Run Deep

Anti-immigrant marches first erupted in 2008, when xenophobic violence claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands. Since then, protests have flared sporadically, often in communities where unemployment, inequality, and poverty are the order of the day. Analysts argue that government has historically only intervened during crises, leaving tensions to simmer until the next wave of violence.

Over time, these movements have gained traction in townships and informal settlements where frustrations over jobs, housing, and public services are most acute. Civic organisations such as March and March have amplified demands that foreign migrants leave South Africa, with scores of foreign nationals reportedly departing ahead of the June 30 deadline. The Old Durban Drive In has been at the centre of repatriation of thousands of Malawina citizens.

But government officials said the centre would be closed down and those seeking repatriation would have to go or taken to a Musina centre in Limpopo province

A Nation Haunted by its Past

As the nation braces for Tuesday, the question is whether South Africa can break the cycle — or whether history will once again repeat itself in fire and blood. TQ