As concerns mount across South Africa over an upcoming June 30 deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country, Gauteng police commissioner, Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, has assured residents that the province’s law enforcement agencies are ready for any eventuality.
Speaking from Kempton Park, where the province delivered the comprehensive fourth-quarter crime statistics for the 2025/26 reporting period, Mthombeni revealed the extensive preparations underway. His forces, which include more than 9,000 members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) and over 8,000 Gauteng Traffic wardens, signify a significant commitment to ensuring order during the impending protests, which are expected to coincide with the arrival of the June 30 deadline.
“Yes, of course, we are ready. I would say collectively, we are ready. We have adopted the whole government approach with six pillars of policing, which have been approved by the government since 2022. We are really hard at work,” he stated.
Mthombeni’s address comes just two weeks after KwaZulu-Natal-based activist Nkosikhona “Phakel’umthakathi” Ndabandaba insisted that nationwide protests planned on the day would be peaceful and non-violent.
Ndabandaba, who has been at the forefront of calls for nationwide protests on that day, stated: “We are not suggesting that on the 30th, South Africans will demand that foreigners leave. We issued this date on the 7th of December 2022. We said we are giving you six months to plan yourself because we know they have families, they have investments here.”
According to Ndabandaba, the six-month notice was originally issued on December 7, 2025, to allow undocumented individuals time to prepare.
Mthombeni echoed the sentiment, stating the province’s law enforcement is adopting a collective approach, which includes collaboration with various stakeholders such as Business Against Crime South Africa and the broader security industry.
Mthombeni stated that the province boasts an impressive network of over 217 security partners and 9,000 community members within policing structures, all instrumental in managing the anticipated tensions surrounding the deadline.
“We are partnering with them, and this was a follow-up meeting we had yesterday,” Mthombeni added, reinforcing the commitment from law enforcement to liaise effectively with community leaders and security stakeholders. The comprehensive planning reflects a determination to maintain stability and ensure that the protests do not escalate into violence.
Despite assurances from civic groups that the marches would be peaceful, Gauteng Community Safety Portfolio Committee chairperson Dr Bandile Masuku, who was present during Mthombeni’s address, stressed the importance of effective policing to ensure the safety of Gauteng residents and state property.
Masuku stated that fears of another wave of looting and destruction, similar to the July unrest, remain his biggest concern ahead of the planned June 30 shutdown over illegal immigration.
“We cannot continue to do nothing about these types of protests and actions, which sometimes border on hatred. We need the government to act. The President has allayed our fears, and we just need to make sure that everybody who is within our borders is accounted for and is known,” he stated.
Siyabonga Sithole
iol.co.za
