Open Letter to Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia

Written on 7 May 2026

Dear Professor Cachalia

STOPPING XENOPHOBIC INCITEMENT AND MOBILISATION FROM DESTABILISING COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

There has been a visible escalation over the past year in inflammatory rhetoric and mobilisation targeting African immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, and their businesses.

In the past, police have proven unable to prevent similar escalations from developing into sprees of vigilantism, looting, violence and murder. This year, our plea to you is that police assert control, in defence of human lives, dignity, and the Constitution – and to stop the destabilisation, intentional or incidental, of local government elections.

What’s been particularly disturbing this year has been the increasing organisation of the xenophobia movement. Whereas in the past, anti-foreigner mobilisation was presented as an organic community response, it is now led by a cast of political actors, organised groupings and their affiliates, and opportunistic instigators – including members of several political parties.

These “leaders” clearly believe there is political value in exploiting the genuine frustrations of poor and working-class South Africans with an election just six months away.

Their actions are emboldened by a police service that has until now largely played the role of a bystander. This has applied not only to incidents of violence, intimidation and looting, but also organised campaigns against immigrants’ access to medical care and education.

We are particularly alarmed by attempts to normalise unlawful conduct through organised campaigns in which individuals parade through communities acting as self-appointed immigration enforcement structures, demanding documentation from residents, threatening businesses, and encouraging hostility towards foreign nationals.

Such actions undermine the authority of the state, weaken public trust in lawful institutions, and create conditions that can rapidly descend into violence.

In 2008, the surge of xenophobic violence led to the deaths of 62 people, widespread displacement, destruction of homes and businesses, and severe reputational damage to our country.

The July 2021 unrest similarly demonstrated the devastating consequences of organised incitement and instability – and how ineffective police can be.

The past year’s undisturbed activities by the xenophobes has laid the table for a renewed outbreak of violence.

The use of inflammatory public messaging, coordinated mobilisation, scapegoating of vulnerable communities, and the encouragement of lawlessness cannot be dismissed as isolated incidents or legitimate political expression. These actions pose a direct threat to social cohesion, public safety, economic stability, and constitutional democracy.

The GOOD Party therefore calls on you to take the lead in asserting control to stabilise communities.

The turnout of police at yesterday’s march in Durban was heartening, but much more is required than defending the central business districts of our cities.

Most critically needed are:

• Strengthened intelligence gathering and the creation of early warning systems;
• Engagement with community leaders, civil society and community structures to promote social cohesion;
• Visible policing; and
• Decisive action against vigilantism, intimidation, and efforts by private actors to usurp the functions of the state.

These actions, taken together, will publicly reaffirm the constitutional rights and protections afforded to all people living in South Africa.

The combined impacts of unemployment, poverty, rapid urbanisation, mass immigration, and dire living conditions inform the daily lived experience of millions of South Africans.

These challenges will not be resolved through organised violence and scapegoating; nor should they be openly exploited by politicians in an election year.

The rule of law in a constitutional democracy is paramount. When gaps emerge in the “thin blue line” it places the country’s economy, reputation and social values at great risk.

Yours sincerely,

Brett Herron MPP Secretary-General

GOOD Manifesto on Community Safety: Strengthening community safety initiatives.

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