Dr. Bandile Masuku, Chairperson of the Gauteng Community Safety Portfolio Committee, has expressed serious concern that the planned 30 June shutdown over illegal immigration could escalate into violence and looting reminiscent of the July 2021 unrest.
While acknowledging citizens’ legitimate frustrations regarding illegal immigration, Masuku emphasized that the demonstration must remain peaceful. “Our major concern is relating to what we have seen in the July unrest where properties were looted, shops were looted and the economy was almost at a standstill,” he stated. He noted that organizers have indicated the march is intended to voice concerns, not to target individuals or foreign nationals.
Masuku also addressed growing apprehension about potential retaliation. He acknowledged reports via social media of threats promising revenge should any harm come to march participants, stressing that such cycles of violence must be avoided.
“The issues that are raised are issues that cannot be resolved overnight,” Masuku explained. “They require a process facilitated by government in terms of registration, deportations, and detention where necessary of those found to be here illegally or involved in criminal activity.” He affirmed the committee’s mandate is to ensure these government processes are expedited.
The spokesperson also commented on the involvement of political parties, including ActionSA and the MK party, in the planned marches. Masuku acknowledged international precedents where immigration sentiment has been leveraged for electioneering. “We are worried that political parties will use this as part of electioneering,” he said, urging that government focus instead on enforcement and substantive solutions to citizens’ economic concerns. He cited models from the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia as examples of how nations can orderly manage foreign nationals entering for economic activity.
Turning to recently released provincial crime statistics, Masuku noted that while overall crime in Gauteng has declined, the province remains the largest contributor to the national crime burden. He highlighted stubborn categories requiring focused intervention: “We need to see which particular categories of crime are very stubborn in terms of reduction—the ones that relate to murder, that relate to assaults… a lot of cases involving individuals beating up each other and stabbing each other.”
Masuku identified places of entertainment where alcohol is served as a significant factor in violent assaults, stating the portfolio committee would scrutinize licensing practices for such establishments.
Addressing tensions around spaza shops in township areas, Masuku referenced past incidents in Soweto where communities moved to replace foreign-owned shops with local operators. However, he pointed to a deeper challenge: suspected criminal syndicates, including those involving foreign nationals, that are believed to control aspects of the spaza shop economy. “These are syndicates that need to be broken apart, and this requires a lot of intelligence,” he said, expressing confidence that police investigations would yield results. He linked this issue to the recent kidnapping of a spaza shop owner in Soweto, which he indicated involved such syndicates.
Masuku concluded by reiterating the need for calm, lawful expression of grievances and for government to deliver tangible progress on immigration enforcement and economic opportunity.
