Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has called on protestors taking part in Wednesday's marches to cooperate with police to ensure that the protests are orderly and peaceful.
"We urge everybody who will be partaking in the protests tomorrow to do so in an orderly manner. Police, assisted by their counterparts including defence, local government, event organisers and other stakeholders, will be on hand to ensure that no property is destroyed, no harassment takes place and basically ensure that all things run smoothly," the minister said on Tuesday.
COSATU has planned 32 marches across the country on Wednesday, including Johannesburg and Cape Town, in protest against the use of labour brokers and e-tolling on Gauteng's freeways, among other issues.
Mthethwa, who was briefed by SAPS management about security operational plans, noted that there had been good cooperation between the march organisers and police in the pre-planning phase.
He called for the cooperation between the stakeholders to be strengthened to avoid any unnecessary altercations and tensions in the future.
He also called on union leaders to discourage their members from any ill-behaviour.
"Police have a mandate to protect law-abiding citizens and those who find themselves on the wrong side; we shall have no leniency on them. We also urge community members who witness such evil actions to report them to the police. No person has the right to take the law into their own hands under whatever circumstances," Mthethwa said.
He said while government respected the rights of citizens to express themselves through protest marches, it does not tolerate any un-orderly and violent protests.
He said cooperation between the marchers and police was of paramount importance to ensure peaceful marches.
