Police have arrested 30 suspects—25 in KwaZulu-Natal and five in Gauteng—in connection with public violence and unlawful protests.
The protests followed claims that a recent Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications grants blanket amnesty to undocumented foreign nationals.
“The arrests relate to offences including public violence, malicious damage to property, illegal gathering, obstruction and resisting arrest, with further charges dependent on the outcome of investigations,” Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, said on Saturday night.
Those arrested since Thursday include people allegedly identified as ringleaders who had threatened to disrupt planned sporting events in Durban.
Mosikili made the remarks during a media briefing by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) on nationwide law-enforcement deployments, operations and stability. The briefing followed protests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in which vehicles and buildings were burned and other property was damaged.
“The coordinated operations and decisive interventions of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure are yielding results, with law enforcement agencies making significant progress in containing violence, apprehending perpetrators and restoring stability in affected areas.
“Our deployments remain active and are being continuously adjusted in response to verified intelligence and evolving operational requirements. These arrests demonstrate that unlawful conduct carries consequences,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
She added that investigations were continuing and that law-enforcement agencies were pursuing those implicated in burning vehicles, attacking businesses and homes, looting and committing other criminal acts.
Lawlessness will not be tolerated
The suspects will be processed through the criminal justice system, and the National Prosecuting Authority will exercise its mandate in accordance with the law.
“The message is unequivocal: the state is firmly in control of its security response, the authority of the law will be upheld, and no individual or group will be permitted to hold communities, public institutions or lawful activities to ransom through intimidation, violence or the destruction of property.
“The incidents in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, involving the burning of vehicles, damage to buildings, looting and confrontations within communities, required an immediate and coordinated response.
“The destruction of property and intimidation of individuals are not legitimate expressions of grievance. They are criminal acts that threaten lives, undermine livelihoods, disrupt essential services and erode the safety and stability of communities,” Mosikili emphasised.
In response, NATJOINTS has intensified national coordination, and senior management has deployed additional resources to strengthen policing capacity in the affected provinces.
Maximum operational deployments began across all nine provinces on 9 October, increasing police visibility and readiness while strengthening the capacity to respond swiftly to emerging threats and maintain policing services.
The Deputy Commissioner said Crime Intelligence, the State Security Agency and other relevant intelligence structures continued to monitor developments, verify information, identify potential threats and issue early warnings to guide operational decisions.
These intelligence-led interventions are supported by coordinated planning through NATJOINTS, the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structures (PROVJOINTS) and relevant operational command structures.
The South African National Defence Force has also been activated in KwaZulu-Natal to support the South African Police Service.
“This forms part of a decisive, coordinated response to strengthen stabilisation efforts and support the maintenance of law and order. Additional reinforcement requirements are being assessed in line with operational needs.
“The situation in the affected areas is being closely monitored, with interventions focused on preventing further violence, protecting vulnerable communities, safeguarding businesses and residential properties, and preventing retaliatory attacks.
“While isolated incidents may still occur, the collective response of law enforcement agencies is directed at containing these threats before they escalate. We remain alert, prepared and committed to responding decisively, professionally and within the law,” Mosikili said.
Sports events proceed without disruption
She emphasised that the planned football and cricket matches in KwaZulu-Natal had proceeded without disruption.
“This demonstrates that coordinated security planning and operational deployments are enabling communities to continue with lawful activities despite attempts to create instability. Security monitoring continues beyond the conclusion of these events.
“No group will be allowed to threaten sporting fixtures, obstruct lawful gatherings or dictate whether people may exercise their rights through intimidation and violence,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
NATJOINTS will continue to coordinate intelligence, deployments, investigations and interdepartmental interventions to prevent further escalation and maintain stability.
“Our priority remains the protection of life and property, the preservation of public order and the uninterrupted functioning of communities and essential services,” she said. -SAnews.gov.za
