The civil society group, Forum for South Africa (FOSA), has criticised and voiced suspicion over the Police Ministry’s spending on security for the 30 June protests.
Earlier this week, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced that R600 million would be spent on safety and security operations in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and the Western Cape, ahead of national anti-illegal immigration protests planned for 30 June.
READ MORE: 30 June Protests: Security preparations costing the country R600 million – Smile 90.4FM
FOSA has, however, questioned whether that money would actually go to policing or whether some would “disappear into corruption networks”.
Spokesperson Tebogo Mashilompane said the allocation is not reflective of leadership.
“This is panic spending, political posturing, and a potential looting opportunity disguised as intervention,” said Mashilompane.
He also questioned the basis of the R600 million calculation and demanded a detailed breakdown of how it will be spent.
“South Africans have seen this script before: big numbers, no transparency, and billions gone.”
FOSA argued that government failures in addressing illegal immigration, border security and crime were now being masked by a large spending announcement ahead of the planned demonstrations.
The group also criticised the decision to deploy both police and military forces, describing it as potentially wasteful.
“South Africans are tired of being treated like fools. We will not accept: wasteful spending; corruption disguised as intervention; a government that only acts when exposed or pressured… If government has nothing to hide, it must open the books now,” read the FOSA statement.
