Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has firmly stated that no national shutdown will be permitted in South Africa on June 30, 2026, despite planned mass demonstrations by civic organizations targeting undocumented foreign nationals.
Speaking during a media briefing on the outcomes of this week’s Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni addressed reports that groups including Insizwa Ngobunsizwa and the March and March Movement are mobilizing for nationwide protests. While affirming citizens’ constitutional right to peaceful assembly, she drew a clear line against vigilantism.
“South Africans have the right to protest and they can march in terms as provided for by the Constitution,” Ntshavheni said. “But South Africans have no right to take the law into their own hands.”
The Minister emphasized that the government remains firmly in control of national security and public order. “There’s nobody who is going to enforce a shutdown of this country,” she declared, urging clarity and calm among the public.
Ntshavheni declined to elaborate on the government’s classification of individuals organizing the planned marches, cautioning that premature disclosure could interfere with ongoing operations. “If we then disclose what our categorization of the people behind the marches and everything else, we may compromise the work that is being done by law enforcement and nodes,” she explained.
She noted that President Cyril Ramaphosa will provide further details on the coordinated response, which builds on previous government briefings, parliamentary debates, and statements from the criminal justice cluster. “Government has been for the longest time seized with work to deal with migration,” Ntshavheni added, underscoring that migration management remains an active and prioritized policy area.
The briefing comes amid heightened public discourse around migration, documentation, and service delivery. Authorities have encouraged citizens to utilize legal channels for grievances and to cooperate with law enforcement as preparations for June 30 continue.
The government has reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law while ensuring that constitutional rights to protest are exercised peacefully and without disruption to critical national functions.
