President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy at a heavily-guarded state memorial service for the former apartheid president FW de Klerk on Sunday.
De Klerk, who died on November 11 was laid to rest 10 days later in a private ceremony attended by close friends and family.
The heavily policed event will see multiple roads leading up to the Groote Kerk in Cape Town CBD closed as police call for calm - stating that they would not hesitate to act against anyone who broke any laws.
Police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe said attendees were encouraged to co-operate with law enforcement officers and exercise patience in a bid to ensure that everyone was able to mourn safely, in a secure environment.
The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), which had several meetings, was said to be satisfied with the plans in place which included route security and access control.
“Members of the public are cautioned against committing illegal acts as law enforcement agencies will not hesitate to act against anyone who conducts themselves in an unlawful manner,” she said in a statement.
“We are confident that all attendees irrespective of race, colour, creed and/or political affiliation will come together harmoniously to honour the late deputy president.”
While no group has publicly announced plans to disrupt proceedings, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele also warned that those who planned to protest or disrupt the ceremony would be dealt with.
The release of videos by the FW de Klerk Foundation, which saw the former statesman offering apologies for apartheid crimes - sparked widespread and divisive debates in the country.
Addressing a post-Cabinet meeting briefing, Gungubele said: “I think this has become a tricky debate in our country. But what I want to state here is that our forebears fought against division, whether it is based on tribe, whether it is based on race. They committed that those who are for unity are on our side, and those are against unity are our enemies. Whoever was our enemy before, took an initiative to be part of a united South Africa.
“My understanding of the mission of our forebears is that one has become part of us because we are serious when we say we are against division when we say we are serious about racism.”
Last month, the group Black People’s National Crisis Committee slaughtered a sheep at a popular open space known as eparkini in Khayelitsha to “celebrate” former De Klerk’s death.