South Africa’s (SA) Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration (IMC) has strongly cautioned the public against spreading false information on social media and engaging in acts of vigilantism ahead of planned anti-illegal immigration protests on June 30.
The upcoming date has been declared by several groups as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. In response, the IMC is overseeing a five-point enforcement strategy focused on tightening border security, executing deportations, and cracking down on legal violations.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi confirmed that the government has already engaged social media platforms to address violent incitement being propagated by certain groups ahead of Tuesday’s protests.
Kubayi reminded the public that while constitutional rights to free expression and peaceful assembly are protected, they have strict legal limits.
“This right does not extend to propaganda for war, incitement of imminent violence, or advocacy of hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion,” Kubayi warned. “Any conduct that crosses these lines, whether by individuals, organised formations or so-called community enforcement groups, constitutes a criminal offence.”
–ChannelAfrica–
