Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has dismissed claims that South Africa will experience a national shutdown on 30 June, stressing that no such action will be allowed to disrupt the country.
Ntshavheni's remarks come amid plans by several civic organisations, including Insizwa Ngobunsizwa, the March and March Movement, and other groups, to stage demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals.
Speaking during a media briefing on the outcomes of this week's Cabinet meeting, Ntshavheni reaffirmed citizens' constitutional right to protest but warned that individuals and organisations would not be permitted to take the law into their own hands.
She said government respects the right to peaceful assembly and protest, provided such actions are conducted within the confines of the law.
"South Africans have the right to protest and they can march as provided by the Constitution, but South Africans have no right to take the law into their own hands," Ntshavheni said.
She further sought to reassure the public that there would be no national shutdown.
"As we have indicated before, there is no one who is going to do a shutdown of this country, and we must be very clear about that," she added.
The planned demonstrations form part of ongoing debates around illegal immigration, border management and employment opportunities in South Africa.
Government has repeatedly called for concerns around immigration to be addressed through lawful channels while warning against acts of intimidation, violence or vigilantism.
Authorities have indicated that law enforcement agencies will continue monitoring developments to ensure that any protests remain peaceful and compliant with the law.