KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says while last week’s illegal migration marches demonstrated the province’s commitment to upholding the constitutional right to peaceful protest, government will intensify its crackdown on criminality, illegal employment and undocumented foreign nationals following incidents of looting and disruptions to businesses.
Addressing the media on Thursday, 2 July, after receiving a comprehensive report from the KwaZulu-Natal Police Service, Ntuli said the province had emerged from a potentially volatile period with law and order largely intact, despite isolated incidents of criminality.
“The right to peaceful protest is protected by our Constitution, and we commend those who exercised this right responsibly. However, criminality, looting and intimidation will never be tolerated. Anyone who uses peaceful demonstrations as a cover for crime will face the full might of the law,” said Ntuli.
The Premier said 20 marches took place across KwaZulu-Natal, with incidents reported at 10 of them. Police arrested 51 suspects for offences linked to looting and other criminal activities during the protests, arresting 250 undocumented foreign nationals during operations conducted by law enforcement agencies.
Ntuli praised the South African Police Service, Metro Police, Road Traffic Inspectorate and other security agencies for preventing widespread violence, saying their coordinated approach ensured the province remained stable.
“We have shown that KwaZulu-Natal is capable of maintaining law and order while respecting democratic rights. Our security forces acted decisively to protect lives, businesses and property,” he said.
The Premier acknowledged growing public frustration over unemployment and the increasing demand for jobs, healthcare and safer communities, saying these concerns had been consistently raised during the demonstrations.
He announced that government would convene a multi-stakeholder round-table discussion involving the Departments of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Ithala, municipalities, organised business and chambers of commerce to address concerns around the regulation of spaza shops and strengthen compliance.
Ntuli also confirmed that labour and immigration inspections across workplaces would be intensified to ensure businesses comply with employment and immigration legislation.
“Government cannot allow illegal employment practices to undermine opportunities for law-abiding citizens or compromise the integrity of our economy. We will continue working with employers to ensure compliance with the law,” he said.
The Premier appealed to communities not to target foreign nationals who are legally in South Africa, warning that xenophobic attacks and vigilantism would not be tolerated.
“People who are legally in our country deserve to live in peace and safety. We encourage communities to report illegal activities to the relevant authorities rather than taking the law into their own hands. We remain committed to promoting social cohesion,” Ntuli said.
Addressing the humanitarian situation at the Durban Drive-In site, Ntuli said displaced Malawian and Zimbabwean nationals continue to arrive, with the Department of Home Affairs working alongside foreign embassies and commissioners to facilitate documentation and voluntary repatriation where necessary.
While reaffirming government’s commitment to public safety, Ntuli cautioned that repeated large-scale protests and images of unrest could damage investor confidence and negatively affect KwaZulu-Natal’s economy.
“We must protect the reputation of our province. KwaZulu-Natal remains open for business, and we will continue working to create an environment that attracts investment, creates jobs and supports economic growth while ensuring that the rule of law prevails,” he said.
