Acting Police Commissioner to assess police deployments in Soweto

Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane is set to travel to Soweto this Thursday evening to evaluate the current security situation and provide an update on police deployments in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and other high-risk areas. The visit follows recent unrest, including clashes between local residents and foreign nationals, as well as protests outside Home Affairs offices in both Durban and Soweto.

Dimpane will discuss the measures being taken to uphold law and order, safeguard communities, and address emerging security threats. Gauteng Police Spokesperson Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi stated that no arrests had been made thus far in connection with the recent confrontations. She noted that the incidents began after a march, adding that crime intelligence teams were on the ground to monitor the situation.

Protests have taken place in various cities, primarily centered around asylum applications and immigration issues. In Durban, police have been stationed throughout the city following protests that led to the suspension of operations at the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road, along with looting and the burning of vehicles in the city center.

In the Eastern Cape, a group of individuals attempted to disrupt asylum seekers outside Gqeberha Home Affairs refugee offices as they applied for permits. Rubber bullets were reportedly fired during the violence.