Residents affiliated with anti-illegal immigration movements in Alexandra unilaterally shut down several foreign-owned spaza shops on May 12, proceeding without police support after a planned joint operation failed to materialise.

The action, led by the Last Gado and Ziyakhala movements alongside other community leaders, stemmed from growing frustration in the community over undocumented foreign nationals operating businesses in Alexandra.

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Organisers, including Ziyakhala Movement chairperson Sihlalo Hlophe described the campaign as a direct push for compliance with South African immigration and business laws, insisting that local residents should have priority in economic activities.

Hlophe said the operation reflected a wider call across communities for proper enforcement. “They must comply with the law. Those who do not comply must go home,” he stated.

“They can stay if they have proper documents. If not, then you will see more of this operations. People have not seen anything yet.”

He warned that if they did not address the issue now, tensions might escalate in the near future.

“What we are stopping here is chaos, people killing each other and Alexandra returning to its former state where people would say it is rough and out of hand,” Hlophe said.

On May 11, the groups had expected to work alongside police, following confirmation from Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane in a widely shared video. However, when the time came, police did not proceed, citing the lack of a formal operational plan. Ngubane was on leave at the time.

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Visible Policing Commander Colonel Jerry Phaswana advised residents to postpone the action and address the matter at a meeting scheduled for May 13. He warned of the risk of looting and possible arrests if the operation went ahead without proper coordination.

Despite the police’s position, residents moved forward independently. On May 11, they closed multiple foreign-owned shops and took about 10 alleged undocumented immigrants to the Alexandra Police Station, despite having no legal authority to do so, according to the police.

However, the concern among some community members, including community leader Felicia Chauke, is that many foreign nationals are later released and seen in the community. Although she raised this issue in the presence of police officials, they did not respond to the claims.

“We are going to do a follow-up on the arrests that have been made thus far. We want to see them go to court and get deported,” Chauke said.

While some community members warned that the operation risks being seen as a xenophobic operation, Hlophe argued that the campaign was not driven by xenophobia.

He stressed that they are calling only for adherence to the law. “If we were xenophobic, we would have attacked those immigrants who do not have papers. We are simply saying close down and comply first, before you can proceed with your business,” Hlophe said.

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