South African Police Service Spending on June 30 Protests
What happened?
On June 30, nationwide protests against illegal immigration were organised by the anti‑migrant group March and March. The South African Police Service (SAPS) deployed officers to keep the demonstrations peaceful.
How much was spent?
According to Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia, SAPS spent R306.2 million on the deployment. This figure comes from the latest available information and includes:
- Overtime payments – R251.8 million
- Travel and subsistence allowances – R49.1 million
- Reservist remuneration – R3.2 million
- Accommodation reimbursements – R2.1 million
The original budget set aside for the operation was R600 million, so about half of that amount was actually used.
Where did the money go?
Provincial breakdown
The spending varied by province:
- Eastern Cape – R51.8 million
- Free State – R25.7 million
- Gauteng – R40.0 million
- KwaZulu‑Natal – R57.6 million (highest)
- Limpopo – R14.4 million
- Mpumalanga – R16.2 million
- North West – R26.0 million
- Northern Cape – R23.4 million
- Western Cape – R31.6 million
- National‑level competencies – R19.4 million
Who received the funds?
Most of the money went directly to SAPS personnel:
- Officers working overtime
- Members receiving travel and subsistence allowances
- Reservists called up for the event
Accommodation costs were paid by the officers themselves and later reimbursed through the normal travel‑and‑subsistence claim process. No external suppliers, contractors, or service providers received direct payments from SAPS for this operation.
What’s left of the budget?
About R293.8 million of the original R600 million allocation remains unspent. The minister said the balance will be used to prepare for the upcoming Local Government Elections, covering things like fuel, vehicle maintenance, and other operational needs.
Looking ahead: September 30 protests
The March and March movement has announced another national day of action on September 30, targeting undocumented migration. Authorities have said they will continue with normal policing and will not create a special budget for the event. The Inter‑Ministerial Committee on Migration and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) stressed that regular police resources will handle any marches.
Conclusion
The June 30 deployment cost taxpayers over three hundred million rand, with overtime making up the biggest share. While the spending drew criticism from opposition parties who called it a waste of money, the police emphasized that the funds went mainly to their own officers rather than to outside companies. With a large portion of the budget still unused, SAPS plans to redirect those resources toward election preparations and future public‑order duties.
