Premier Alan Winde says the province is on high alert to mitigate tensions around illegal immigration and associated protests, with a Joint Operations Centre (JOC) meeting held on Monday, 15 June.
Several members of the provincial Cabinet attended the meeting, which was led by the Provincial Disaster Management Centre, in a bid to co-ordinate the province’s plan to address potential social unrest.
This as several marches are taking place in the lead-up to the anti-illegal immigration group March and March, who have demanded that all undocumented foreigners leave the country by 30 June 2026.
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Multiple authorities, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), South African National Defence Force, Department of Home Affairs, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and municipalities, form part of the JOC.
Winde says the Western Cape’s plan is based on the following priorities:
• Visible policing in hotspots
• Strengthening intelligence networks
• Proactive communications
• Rapid mediation and engagement
Police are monitoring all social media channels, while the International Relations Directorate, within the Department of the Premier, has been in regular contact with several foreign missions.
The Premier expressed serious concern over a potential escalation which could lead to social unrest.
“While we respect every resident’s right to protest, this must be done within the confines of the law. We urge residents to stand against violence. Violence in any context is completely unacceptable. We have seen how this issue can escalate into further unrest. We have already had unrest and demonstrations in the Mossel Bay, Overstrand and Cape Agulhas areas. We have taken decisive steps, including bolstering enforcement measures and contingency planning to avoid any further violence.”
Winde has also welcomed interventions implemented by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, which was constituted by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The Premier has further called on all undocumented foreigners living in the province to take immediate steps to regularise their status in accordance with the country’s immigration laws.
