Calling for Peaceful 30 June Protests and Constitutional Restraint

Johannesburg, Saturday, 29 June 2026 — Public Interest SA notes the peaceful demonstrations that have been unfolding across the country in the lead-up to the nationwide protests against illegal immigration scheduled for 30 June 2026.

We are encouraged by the commitment expressed by protest organisers that the demonstrations will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with Section 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. Enshrined in Chapter 2, the Bill of Rights, Section 17 provides that: 

"Everyone has the right, peacefully and unarmed, to assemble, to demonstrate, to picket and to present petitions."

The constitutional right to peaceful assembly is a cornerstone of South Africa's democratic order. Equally, it carries with it a responsibility on the part of organisers, participants and the State to ensure that demonstrations remain peaceful, lawful and respectful of the rights of others.

While we acknowledge calls from members of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster urging that the protests proceed peacefully, we are concerned by remarks by acting minister of police, Firoz Cachalia.

His unfortunate characterisation of lawful protesters as "the enemy" and redirecting R600 million in taxpayers money to quell lawful protests represents a troubling departure from the constitutional obligation of the State to facilitate and protect the exercise of fundamental rights.

Such ill-timed rhetoric, by a purported constitutional scholar, risks unnecessarily escalating tensions at a time when restraint, dialogue and professionalism are most needed.

Public Interest SA trusts that members of the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies will execute their constitutional mandate impartially, professionally and strictly within the confines of the law notwithstanding Cachalia's sabre rattlng.

At a time when public confidence in law enforcement institutions continues to be undermined by persistent allegations of corruption and misconduct, it is imperative that policing during these demonstrations reinforces, rather than erodes, public trust.

South Africa's democratic history has been shaped by painful episodes in which failures of leadership and excessive use of force resulted in tragic loss of life. Those entrusted with public power should remain mindful of these lessons and ensure that history is neither forgotten nor repeated.

Public Interest SA therefore calls upon:

• Protest organisers and participants to conduct themselves peacefully, obey lawful instructions from law enforcement officials, and reject any acts of violence, intimidation, or destruction of property.

• Law enforcement agencies to facilitate peaceful assembly, exercise maximum restraint, and act at all times in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

• Political leaders, public office bearers, mainstream media, including social media pundits to avoid inflammatory rhetoric that could heighten tensions or undermine public confidence in the impartiality of the State or deligitimise the agency of the protesters.

South Africa requires calm leadership, measured policing and responsible civic participation. The exercise of constitutional rights should never be met with unnecessary hostility, nor should those rights be abused to commit unlawful acts.

“It must be emphasised that the strength of a nation rests in the integrity of its constitutional ideals, including the rights enshrined in Section 17 of the Constitution, rather than in the misuse of authority by those who seek to intimidate or inflame tensions while escaping. accountability. It is appropriate to remind the seemingly tone deaf acting minister Firoz Cachalia, and those who may have emboldened his ill-timed approach, that lawful protest is protected by the supreme law, and that in a constitutional democracy it is right that confers legitimacy on power, not the other way around,” says Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.

Lest the acting minister has forgotten the lessons of his student years, public protests are inherently disruptive by their very nature. The demonstrations scheduled for 30 June should therefore be expected to be no different.

It is becoming increasingly evident that the State’s capacity to protect citizens has been significantly weakened, reflected in its reliance on the support of private security companies and the precarious partnerships with elements of the taxi industry and associated enforcers, many of whom operate outside the law with apparent impunity.

Depending on how government responds to the demands of lawful protesters, 30 June may become a precursor to broader, sustained mass action driven by increasingly disillusioned citizens, with potential implications for perceptions of governmental legitimacy. In which case, government may be confronted with mounting fiscal pressures, as additional public resources would be required to manage escalating social unrest and maintain public order.

As the nation approaches 30 June, Public Interest SA calls upon all stakeholders to demonstrate that constitutional democracy is best served through peaceful engagement, respect for the rule of law, and the protection of every person's rights and dignity.

END