Operation Ubuntu Leader Accuses Police of Inaction Against Vigilante Groups

Civil society organizers under the Operation Ubuntu banner have issued a sharp critique of the South African Police Service, alleging that law enforcement agencies are turning a blind eye to the rise of anti-migrant vigilante operations and informal policing groups targeting foreign nationals.

Speaking during a nationwide series of demonstrations across major metro centers, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, Operation Ubuntu Coordinator General Moyo stated that police passivity has allowed illegal community enforcement squads to operate with near-impunity.

Moyo asserted that the police are failing to act against vigilante groups that harass, intimidate, and incite violence against foreign nationals. He added that instead of enforcing the rule of law, authorities are allowing informal groups to take the law into their own hands.

Key Demands Presented to Authorities

During the protests, marchers delivered formal memoranda of demands addressed to police leadership, the Department of Home Affairs, and other government bodies. The core demands include:

1. Prosecution of Hate Speech: Immediate legal action against individuals and groups using social media and public platforms to incite violence or discrimination against migrants.

2. Disbanding Vigilante Structures: Proactive police intervention against unregistered community policing units and vigilante groups operating outside statutory bounds.

3. Addressing Systemic Failures: Urging the government to take accountability for broader socioeconomic issues, such as housing shortages, unemployment, and strained public services, rather than permitting foreign nationals to be scapegoated for policy shortcomings.

Law Enforcement Response

Police leadership maintained that officers are committed to enforcing the law impartially and preventing public disorder.

Responding to the allegations, Gauteng Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni emphasized that the primary role of law enforcement during public demonstrations is to preserve order and ensure public safety. He noted that police do act against illegal behavior, pointing to past incidents where officers arrested over 60 individuals during illegal or violent anti-migrant demonstrations in Springs as evidence that law breaking is not tolerated regardless of source.

Despite these assurances, civil society leaders insist that systemic reforms and consistent enforcement are needed to protect vulnerable communities from extrajudicial intimidation.