By Anita Dangazele
- Police Portfolio Committee chair Ian Cameron says individuals who openly incited violence ahead of June 30 remain free, warning that no one has faced consequences yet.
- Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed on Monday that R600 million has been set aside to deploy officers and secure hotspot areas ahead of the June 30 deadline.
The man who oversees parliament’s police watchdog says people who called for violence ahead of June 30 are still walking free. And he wants to know why.
Police Portfolio Committee chairperson Ian Cameron made the statement on Tuesday as his committee prepares to conduct oversight visits across the country to assess police readiness ahead of the deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Cameron said the coordination between law enforcement agencies appeared to be in place. But he was direct about what is missing.
“There are people that have openly and publicly been inciting violence and encouraging violence, and I’m yet to see them being brought to book,” Cameron said.
SAPS confirmed this week that no prominent march organisers or anti-immigration activists have been arrested for their public statements. Officers are monitoring social media accounts that posted videos showing weapons, calls to cover faces and threats against foreign-owned businesses. Authorities warned that online inciters will be tracked and charged under cybercrime and public violence laws.
Earlier this month, Justice Minister Mmamaloko Kubayi confirmed that 143 people had been arrested for inciting violence against foreign nationals. Thousands more were detained for breaching immigration and labour laws.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced on Monday that R600 million has been set aside to deploy additional officers and secure critical infrastructure in identified hotspot areas.
NATJOINTS warned this week that private citizens have no legal authority to conduct immigration checks. Anyone carrying dangerous or traditional weapons on June 30 faces immediate arrest.
Some organisers have walked back the harder language in recent days, saying the deadline was meant to pressure the government rather than trigger forced removals or looting.
June 30 is one week away.
Pictured above: Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police chair Ian Cameron.
Image source: Ian Cameron/Facebook Page
