Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the South African city of Durban to protest against illegal immigration, calling for the immediate deportation of foreign nationals living in the country without legal status. The protest was led by a group known as March by March, which had previously set a September 30 deadline for illegal migrants to exit South Africa. This deadline was not recognized by the government or local authorities.
During the march, some participants carried traditional Zulu weapons and sang cultural songs as they moved through the streets of Durban. Police confirmed that there were no reports of violence directed at foreigners during the event. This demonstration follows a similar deadline set for June 30, which resulted in a wave of attacks on immigrants and a subsequent mass repatriation of foreign nationals to their home countries, facilitated by their respective governments.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of the March by March group, stated that the protest aimed to pressure the government into taking stronger action regarding deportations. She highlighted concerns over the country's porous borders and the strain on limited resources, noting that the public is becoming increasingly frustrated. She urged the government to prioritize the concerns of its citizens rather than focusing on international perception.
South African authorities have reported that thousands of foreigners residing in the country illegally have been deported in recent months. The immigration issue has led to diplomatic friction, including a decision by the Nigerian parliament earlier this month to indefinitely suspend official visits and engagements with South Africa. Many South Africans blame migrants for high unemployment rates, rising crime, and the pressure on public services, impacting nationals from countries including Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ethiopia.
In addition to immigration, protesters used the demonstration to voice outrage over the prevalence of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, an issue recently underscored by the discovery of at least 11 women killed in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
