Update
PLETTENBERG BAY & KNYSNA NEWS - Tensions about undocumented foreign nationals have escalated in parts of the Garden Route, with incidents reported in Kwanokuthula on Saturday 13 June and Monday 15 June, as well as earlier unrest in the Knysna Industrial area on Thursday 11 June.
The authorities have called for calm as police and municipal structures intensify their operations and community engagements.
The situation has developed against the backdrop of growing community concern ahead of a widely referenced 30 June ‘deadline’, which has contributed to heightened anxiety among residents and foreign nationals alike.
Unverified claims of planned national shutdown actions on 30 June have circulated on social media, but remain unconfirmed by the authorities.
Police respond to Kwanokuthula and increase operations
The Southern Cape Police’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Chris Spies, confirmed that the Kwanokuthula Police had been called out to a group of people walking through the streets on Saturday 13 June.
They engaged with the group, which dispersed peacefully. “Operations conducted in the area led to the arrest of eight undocumented persons,” said Spies.
“The police further attended a community engagement on Monday 15 June, where residents were briefed on SAPS procedures and the importance of reporting illegal activities rather than taking the law into their own hands.”
On Tuesday 16 June, the police and Public Order Police were deployed to Plettenberg Bay to respond to possible incidents and maintain stability in identified hotspot areas.
“Kwanokuthula police and Public Order Police are deployed in Plettenberg Bay today where a total of 31 undocumented persons were taken into custody since this morning. This operation forms part of ongoing efforts to address illegal activities,” explained Spies
In conclusion Spies said,“The South African Police Service respects the right of citizens protest however those who embark on such action are urged to do so within the confines of the law. When marchers/protesters engage in violent acts including in incitement of violence, police will not hesitate to act decisively.”
Emergency Sedgefield engagement addresses rising tensions
Following the unrest in the Knysna Industrial area on Thursday 11 June, an emergency community engagement was held in Smutsville, Sedgefield, on Friday 12 June.
The meeting included Knysna’s Mayor Thando Matika, councillors, the police, municipal officials, the Garden Route District Municipality, and community representatives.
Ward 1 councillor Levael Davis said the engagement was convened to de-escalate tensions and create a structured platform for dialogue between residents and authorities.
According to Davis, the community members raised concerns about the perceived increase in undocumented foreign nationals living and working in Sedgefield and surrounding areas, the employment of suspected undocumented persons by local businesses and households, allegedly non-compliant businesses, and frustrations linked to unemployment and economic pressure.
The residents also expressed their concerns about what they viewed as inconsistent enforcement of immigration laws, which they believe is contributing to the rising tensions in the affected communities.
While the attendees emphasised that they did not support violence and preferred lawful intervention, Davis noted that some reports had emerged, indicating that some residents had already begun independently removing individuals suspected of being undocumented from private rental properties.
The police presented operational statistics during the meeting, indicating that 744 undocumented persons had been arrested in the Knysna policing area during the previous financial year, while 226 arrests were recorded between January and May 2026.
Knysna was reported to have the highest number of undocumented persons being arrested among the 21 police stations in the Garden Route District.
Municipal leadership and the police urged the residents to avoid vigilantism, intimidation or unlawful removals, and said they should instead report suspected illegal activity through the proper channels. The authorities also encouraged continued co-operation with law enforcement and established co-ordination structures dealing with immigration-related enforcement.
The situation was assessed as a high risk, as concerns remain that tensions in nearby areas, including Mossel Bay and Kwanokuthula, could spill over into broader Knysna municipal areas if not contained.
Bitou Municipality urges calm and rejects misinformation
In a statement issued on Tuesday 16 June, Bitou Municipality confirmed that the police, supported by Bitou’s law enforcement and other relevant authorities, are conducting ongoing operations to identify individuals who may be residing in the country unlawfully.
The municipality said several individuals had been detained and were being processed in accordance with immigration legislation and established legal procedures, and repatriation was being undertaken where applicable in a lawful and orderly manner.
The authorities stressed that all processes were being conducted with due regard for human rights and dignity.
The Bitou Municipality also warned against the circulation of false or unverified information, dismissing social media claims that municipal community halls had been designated to accommodate foreign nationals. The residents were urged to rely only on official communication channels and to avoid spreading content that could inflame tensions or create unnecessary panic.
The municipality further appealed for restraint, calling on the public to refrain from making or sharing provocative or inciteful statements.
Calls for peaceful conduct and monitoring
Responding to the enquiries about the Knysna Industrial Area incident on 11 June, Knysna Municipality said the matter falls under police jurisdiction.
The municipality confirmed that Matika, the police leadership, the councillors, including Davis, and other stakeholders had participated in structured community engagements in Sedgefield aimed at addressing concerns and reducing tensions.
Matika reiterated the calls for calm, urging residents to uphold democratic principles and allow law enforcement processes to proceed lawfully and without interference.
Meanwhile, social media posts circulating on 16 June raised concerns about alleged threats and intimidation directed at foreign nationals, including those legally residing in South Africa. The posts called for stronger protection measures and condemned any form of violence or intimidation.
As tensions continue across parts of the Garden Route, the authorities have reinforced that immigration enforcement will continue through lawful processes, while vigilantism, threats and unlawful conduct will not be tolerated.
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