South Africa’s National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) has issued a stern rebuke to individuals and groups inciting xenophobic violence, following deadly protests in Mossel Bay, Western Cape, where three people were allegedly killed.
As the country braces for highly anticipated anti-immigration marches scheduled for June 30, law enforcement agencies are drawing a strict line against the digital machinery fueling the unrest. In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), police have invoked the Cybercrimes Act to warn the public that sharing voice notes or social media posts intended to incite violence is a punishable offense. This legal precedent was recently tested when former Operation Dudulla members faced legal action for distributing inflammatory voice notes.
The NatJoints Chairperson emphasized the legal boundaries of the protests, stating clearly that no movement has the right to enforce anti-immigration laws outside the confines of the Constitution. Authorities remain under immense pressure to demonstrate that violence is not a legitimate form of activism.
Community Policing and Digital Accountability
The misuse of digital platforms to coordinate unrest remains a primary concern for community leaders. The KZN Community Policing Forum (CPF) Provincial Secretary noted that social media is increasingly being weaponized to instigate harm, drawing parallels to the coordinated unrest seen in 2021.
While acknowledging the community’s frustration regarding undocumented foreign nationals and service delivery failures, the CPF Secretary urged citizens to use digital platforms responsibly and to report crimes through proper channels rather than resorting to the destruction of property.
To maintain the integrity of community safety structures, the KZN CPF has enforced strict rules regarding member participation in the upcoming marches. The Provincial Secretary explained that any CPF member wishing to participate in activities outside the official scope of the CPF must formally write to the provincial secretary’s office and take a leave of absence. This directive, initially introduced during an April board meeting to prevent political affiliations from discrediting the CPF ahead of the November elections, ensures that individuals act as private citizens rather than representatives of the safety structure.
Although the Secretary noted that no members have formally submitted such declarations yet, he highlighted that many CPF members are actively working alongside the police on the ground to maintain order, including assisting in escorting foreign nationals to Home Affairs in Durban.
Targeting Fraudulent Documentation
Addressing the root causes of the community’s grievances, the CPF Secretary pointed to the proliferation of fraudulent documents. He identified illegal internet cafes and covert in-house operations as primary hubs for producing fake identification. He cited specific instances where foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, were found in possession of documents featuring identical ID numbers and dates of birth but with different photographs.
He stressed the need for targeted community intelligence rather than blanket attacks, which often result in the destruction of property and severely damage local economies. He warned against disrupting economic hubs and highlighted the recent arrests of truck driver union members, noting that while frustrations over illegal foreign nationals in the transport sector exist, closing down economic corridors harms all South Africans.
Preparations for June 30
With the June 30 marches looming, the KZN CPF is working closely with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure peace and stability. The KZN Acting Police Commissioner recently addressed the media to outline preparations for the marches, positioning the CPF as a force multiplier to prevent property destruction and monitor the situation on the ground.
To further bolster these efforts, the CPF Secretary announced that the forum is developing a monitoring dashboard to track case updates and intelligence. Additionally, a joint war room will be established a week or two prior to June 30 to swiftly address any inflammatory social media content and neutralize potential threats before they escalate into physical harm.
