Cape Town – The Ministry of Police says several people have been arrested in connection with incidents of looting and attempted looting reported in parts of South Africa during the nationwide marches held on Tuesday, 30 June.
According to IOL, the ministry said police operations were largely successful, with demonstrations across the country remaining peaceful despite a number of isolated criminal incidents.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia commended law enforcement for maintaining order while urging demonstrators to exercise their constitutional right to protest responsibly.
“We urge citizens to exercise their constitutional rights responsibly and to ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful and lawful. Those who choose 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,” Cachalia said.
Ahead of the protests, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, addressed a joint security briefing on Gauteng’s state of readiness in Johannesburg.
According to SABC News, Kubayi was joined by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and senior officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Kubayi reaffirmed that South Africans have a constitutional right to protest, but appealed to demonstrators to exercise that right peacefully.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who’s also chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on migration, is joined by the Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni. They’re briefing the media on anti-illegal migrant marches taking place in Johannesburg. Tune in to #eNCA,… pic.twitter.com/qVtspMh3W5
— eNCA (@eNCA) June 30, 2026
“We want to reiterate their right to protest, their right to express themselves where they are not happy with their own government. That cannot be taken away from them, but also appealing for those who will be joining to do this in a peaceful manner and not cause harm,” she said.
She stressed that the government’s role was not to intimidate citizens but to uphold law and order.
“We want to say that the state today is not going out to threaten its own citizens, but we have an obligation as government to ensure that there’s law and order.”
Kubayi said the government’s security planning had been heavily influenced by the lessons learnt from the July 2021 unrest, with security agencies undertaking extensive preparations to prevent a repeat of the widespread violence and looting that occurred at the time.
She said the proactive approach had contributed to the peaceful nature of the demonstrations.
“So far there are no major incidents in Gauteng, but also from Natjoints, nothing has happened across [the country] and I think the national commissioner is here, will speak to those effects. It’s because there’s been preparedness from the state.”
She added that the government had acted on concerns previously raised by South Africans following the 2021 unrest.
“I know people were asking us, why are you preparing? You have taught us as citizens that July 21 must never happen again in South Africa. So we’ve listened to you. We are ensuring that July 21 never happens again.”
Authorities have reiterated that while peaceful protest is protected by the Constitution, anyone found using demonstrations as an opportunity to commit criminal offences will be arrested and prosecuted.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
