With just two days to go before the much-talked-about 30 June deadline, the South African government has moved to reassure citizens that it will be business as usual across the country.
The reassurance comes after weeks of growing tension on social media, where anti-illegal immigration groups have called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by 30 June while threatening nationwide action if government fails to act. However, government has stressed that the deadline was never set by the state.
Addressing the nation through the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, government made it clear that Tuesday, 30 June, will not be treated as a special day.
“We therefore declare that the 30th of June 2026 as a normal day for the country,” the committee said.
It added: “We repeat that the 30th of June 2026 will be a normal day for the country, economic and social activities will not be disrupted.”
Government has also dismissed claims circulating online that it issued an ultimatum for foreign nationals to leave the country by 30 June, saying the information is false and misleading.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has sought to reassure South Africans that the planned nationwide demonstrations against illegal immigration will be peaceful.
Speaking at a joint media briefing with more than 20 civil society organisations this week, Ngobese-Zuma rejected claims that the movement is encouraging violence, looting or attacks on foreign nationals. Instead, she said the campaign is aimed at pressuring government to enforce existing immigration laws.
“The 30th of June was never about violence. It was never about shutting down the country. It was never about harming anyone,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
“All we are asking for is for illegal immigrants to leave the country and for government to enforce the laws that already exist.”
Ngobese-Zuma also defended the movement’s decision to set the deadline, arguing that calling on people who are in the country illegally to leave is not unlawful.
“I’m finding it so strange that it can be illegal to tell people who are illegally in the country to leave the country because they are in the country illegally,” she said.
The IMC said immigration laws would continue to be enforced by the relevant state authorities, but warned that members of the public should not take the law into their own hands.
“We further reiterate that no unauthorised person is permitted to demand documentation or proof of nationality from anyone,” the committee said.
Authorities also expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and AI-generated content ahead of the date, warning that fake videos and inflammatory social media posts could fuel unnecessary panic.
“We once again caution the public against the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms,” government said.
Meanwhile, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has assured South Africans that law enforcement agencies are ready for any eventuality.
“While the constitutional right to peaceful protest will be respected, no acts of lawlessness, violence, intimidation or criminality will be tolerated,” he said after receiving a briefing on SAPS’ operational readiness.
Police have confirmed that officers will be deployed across the country, with additional security resources on standby if required. Government has also indicated that intelligence assessments do not point to widespread unrest, although authorities remain on high alert as the countdown to 30 June continues.
As the country enters the final two days before the self-imposed deadline, government is urging South Africans to continue with their daily routines, ignore misinformation and leave the enforcement of immigration laws to the relevant authorities.
“We are ready as a State to protect every person, citizens and foreign nationals, against any form of abuse and intimidation,” the IMC said.
