Hundreds of anti-immigration protesters gathered on Tuesday at several locations, including Thokoza Park in Soweto, Johannesburg and Durban central business districts, Church Square, and Tumahole township, following an anti-immigrant group’s nationwide protest call that set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners in South Africa.
The demonstrators occupied the streets, with some carrying South Africa’s national flag, chanting songs, and brandishing sticks and shields, as personnel from the South African Police Service (SAPS) monitored the scene.
Earlier, the police authority announced that it deployed several operatives to quell unlawful acts such as looting and destruction of public property ahead of the June 30 unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups.
According to reports from local media outlets on Tuesday, shops were closed, and streets and commercial areas were less busy than on a typical weekday.
Speaking in the Free State province of South Africa, the deputy provincial commissioner for policing, Arthur Peter Adams, said the police had launched an anti-violence operation since June 27.
Mr Adams stated, “We have followed an integrated planning process to deal with the expected shutdown. As it stands today, we have deployed a total of 6,000 policemen and women, excluding personnel from other departments.”
“Things have been quiet since last night, which is a direct result of meticulous planning and the collaborative efforts of all role players within the Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (PROVJOINTS). We will continue with these actions throughout the day and beyond to ensure that the Free State remains a stable and peaceful province,” he said.
According to a Facebook update, the police service said it has deployed two helicopters to conduct aerial assessments across southern and northern Gauteng Province. Also, in an official announcement on Facebook, the South African government warned demonstrators not to obstruct access to emergency, health, education and other essential services.
The government also warned against obstructing free movement across public spaces and workplaces, while urging participants to also notify their employers of their participation in the demonstration.
“Today, 30 June 2026, remains a normal working day,” the South African government said.
In Mankweng, Limpopo Province, Zimbabwean foreign nationals gathered at the provincial police headquarters to seek refuge ahead of the planned nationwide demonstrations against illegal immigration.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said many of the foreign nationals, most of whom reside in the Mankweng policing area, voluntarily went to the police station to seek refuge.
Mr Mashaba stated, “We are ensuring that they are safe and secure. We must indicate that we don’t want them to come into contact with Mankweng residents, as that can sometimes turn volatile, and they could be arrested at some point. We have cordoned off the area.”
