More than R600m allocated for security ahead of 30 June protests

Government says more than R600 million will be required to secure the country during the planned nationwide demonstrations on 30 June, as authorities step up preparations amid growing tensions over illegal immigration.

Acting Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia and Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, briefed the media on Monday at the Gauteng South African Police Service (SAPS) head office in Parktown following a high-level security meeting to assess risks and coordinate law enforcement response ahead of the planned protests.

The demonstrations, organised by anti-illegal immigration groups calling for a national shutdown, have prompted government to implement a special security operation aimed at protecting critical infrastructure, maintaining public order and preventing violence.

Cachalia said the operation would require an additional allocation of more than R600 million to ensure adequate deployment of police and other security personnel across the country.

Authorities have also warned that no weapons, including traditional weapons, will be allowed during the demonstrations.

Cachalia stressed that South Africans have a constitutional right to protest peacefully and unarmed, adding that anyone carrying a weapon during the demonstrations would be acting unlawfully.

Government has urged organisers to comply with the Regulation of Gatherings Act by notifying authorities of their plans, providing details such as the expected number of participants and marshals, and ensuring demonstrators understand the rules governing public gatherings.

The minister also warned that law enforcement agencies would act decisively against anyone who incites violence or threatens public safety.

Meanwhile, Cachalia revealed that police recorded 12 criminal incidents during the voter registration weekend, including four murders, five cases involving alleged contraventions of the Electoral Act, and three incidents of public violence.

Police said two of the murders involved members of the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MKP) in Gauteng, while the other incidents involved a Democratic Alliance (DA) member in the Western Cape and an African National Congress (ANC) councillor in the Eastern Cape.

Despite the incidents, authorities described the voter registration weekend as largely peaceful. The Electoral Commission recorded 2.9 million registration transactions nationwide, well above  the 1.7 million recorded during the voter registration period ahead of the 2021 local government elections.

Cachalia condemned the killings, describing attacks on political leader, representatives and supporters as attacks on South Africa’s democracy. He said police had dedicated resources to investigate the murders and to bring those responsible to justice.

Government has reiterated its commitment to maintaining stability ahead of the 30 June demonstrations while ensuring that all South Africans can exercise their constitutional rights within the confines of the law.

#sapsHQ [READ: ACTING NATIONAL POLICE COMMISSIONER, LT GEN PULENG DIMPANE, ON OPERATIONAL PREPAREDNESS FOR 30 JUNE] On expectations for the 30 June demonstrations:
Our intelligence and operational assessments continue to guide our planning. We are monitoring the situation daily… pic.twitter.com/6DWNuPpicq

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) June 22, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe