Pretoria – The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on migration has confirmed that 30 June will remain a normal working day despite planned nationwide protests calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said government has informed diplomatic missions that operations should continue as usual and that there is no reason for embassies or consulates to shut down.
Lamola stressed that South Africa remains committed to law enforcement through official channels and not through vigilante action.
“Our counterparts on the continent, all of them, understand that every country has to enforce its laws,” Lamola said.
He added that concerns from foreign governments centre on the potential for violence rather than the enforcement of immigration laws themselves.
“The issue they raised is why must it be violent, this enforcement of the law, and that’s where we always clarify that it is not the responsibility of any group or private individuals in SA to enforce the law, it is the responsibility of the police,” he said.
Authorities have urged protesters to remain peaceful and operate within the law, while security agencies remain on alert for possible disruptions ahead of the planned demonstrations.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
