SOWETO – Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has warned that lawlessness will not be tolerated following the torching of vehicles during protests linked to asylum seeker concerns.
Dimpane said on Thursday that anyone who chooses to break the law will be dealt with decisively, without fear or favour. “There will be consequences for criminality.”
ALSO READ: South Africa withdraws asylum order after violent clashes.
The warning follows the torching of 10 cars in Soweto and 14 in Durban during protests outside Home Affairs offices assisting asylum seekers. In KwaZulu-Natal, three foreign nationals have been arrested.
Shops belonging to foreign nationals have also been looted amid the unrest.
“These arrests demonstrate that the South African Police Service will act where criminality occurs, irrespective of who is involved,” Dimpane said.
The protests are linked to claims that a recent Constitutional Court ruling on asylum applications gives undocumented foreign nationals a blanket amnesty.
ALSO READ: Protests turn violent as anti-migrant tensions flare in South Africa.
“We understand that there are concerns within communities regarding the issue of asylum seekers and the implications of the recent Constitutional Court ruling. These are matters that require a government response through the appropriate constitutional and legal processes,” Dimpane said.
She said the Provincial Commissioners met to coordinate policing across the affected areas.
“I want to assure the people of South Africa that the situation is under close police monitoring and that the SAPS has mobilised the necessary resources and capabilities to respond to any incidents of violence or criminality.”
Dimpane said if there are grievances, people should raise them through the appropriate channels. “Government has indicated that it will address the Constitutional Court ruling through the established constitutional processes.”
She said the SAPS will exercise restraint where the law requires it, but where criminality occurs, police will act.
“We will protect innocent people. We will protect property. We will protect critical infrastructure. We will protect the right of communities to live and move about safely.”
