The South African police said that Operation 30 June has entered its full operational phase, as the country is ready to work properly before the planned protests across the country.
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster says thousands of police officers have been deployed across the nine states. Police working under various government agencies, tactical response teams, national intervention unit, Special Operations Forces, Air Force, K9 units, mounted units and intelligence agencies are vigilant to protect peaceful protests, communities, important infrastructure and important buildings.
The police stressed that there is a clear difference between exercising constitutional rights and committing criminal offences. Authorities have warned that anyone involved in violence, intimidation, looting, blocking roads, attacking law enforcement, destroying infrastructure or inciting violence will face immediate arrest and prosecution.
The SAPS has confirmed that four people have been arrested after an attack on a Congolese family in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, at the weekend.
Since May 1, the police have registered 103 cases related to foreigners, resulting in 195 arrests. More than 50,000 undocumented foreigners have been arrested since January, and more than 25,000 have been sent back to their countries. The security team urged South Africans to calm down, ignore false information being spread on social media and continue with their normal daily activities, saying that there will be no lapse in security and that the law will be followed throughout Tuesday’s event.