South African Police Service authorities in the Eastern Cape place all eight districts on high alert in the lead-up to planned nationwide demonstrations on 30 June 2026. The police say the enhanced posture is intended to manage public order risks and respond to any potential incidents that may arise during the planned protests. Authorities also indicate that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will be deployed in areas identified as gang violence hotspots. The stated purpose of the SANDF involvement is to back police operations focused on preventing or containing unrest. Public communications from the police reference preparations across the province rather than targeted to a single municipality, suggesting broad readiness measures. The announcement frames the deployment and police alert levels as part of coordinated security planning for the nationwide demonstration date, with attention on areas where local gang violence is already a concern. No specific protest sites, numbers of personnel, or detailed rules for the deployment are included in the available reporting.