The government has warned that a public notice being shared on social media encouraging people to capture illegal immigrants and hand them over to Home Affairs for a reward is fake.

The notice, which displays the South African coat of arms and is headed “Public Notice” claims to offer a R250 reward.

On its WhatsApp channel yesterday (28 June) the government urged members of the public not to share it and to verify government announcements through official and credible sources.

Call for calm

Meanwhile, exporters have called for calm, to ensure political tensions and protest action do not disrupt trade, investment and economic activity ahead of the March and March anti-illegal-immigrant protest tomorrow (30 June).

Exporters Western Cape, a non-profit established in 1979 to support and promote active, sustainable exporting from the Western Cape, has appealed to all parties to ensure any protest action remains peaceful and within the law. It warns that disruption to transport routes or business operations would have serious consequences for exporters and the broader economy.

Chairperson Terry Gale said international buyers and investors expected South Africa to deliver goods on time and without unnecessary disruption.

“Every delayed truck, every blocked road and every day of uncertainty affects exporters who are competing in highly competitive international markets. Buyers have alternatives and, once trust is lost, it is difficult to regain.”

Follow lawful processes

He said Exporters Western Cape recognised that many South Africans were frustrated by unemployment and concerns around illegal immigration, but these issues needed to be addressed through lawful processes rather than disruption or intimidation.

“Government has a responsibility to enforce immigration legislation while maintaining public order. Communities cannot take the law into their own hands or allow protests to disrupt businesses that support employment and economic growth.”

Trade reputation was at stake due to the prospect of wholesale disruption, Gale said, and South African exporters were competing against suppliers from around the world, where customers expected deliveries to arrive on time regardless of events taking place locally.

“Our members spend years building relationships with international customers. Those relationships are built on South Africa’s ability to deliver consistently. Images of violence or blocked roads quickly find their way around the world and can undermine that trust.”

Existing challenges

He said the country was still working to restore its standing following years of port congestion and freight delays.

“Recent improvements in logistics performance have started rebuilding confidence among exporters and international trading partners. We cannot afford setbacks that reverse that progress or create fresh doubts about South Africa’s ability to deliver.”

Gale called on protest organisers and law-enforcement agencies to work together to ensure demonstrations remained peaceful and that businesses were able to continue operating.

“The right to peaceful protest is protected by our Constitution and must be respected. However, that right cannot come at the expense of other South Africans’ right to work and trade. Our exporters are ready to compete with the best in the world, but they need a stable operating environment. South Africa cannot afford another setback just as confidence in our logistics network is beginning to recover.”

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