Alexandra marchers demand action on illegal immigration – ‘enough is enough!’
WATCH: Protesters near Pan Africa Shopping Centre in Alexandra say they are demanding stronger government action on undocumented immigration, while organisers insist the demonstration will remain peaceful.
A large group of protesters are marching through Alexandra on June 30, calling on the South African government to take stronger action against undocumented immigration, saying their concerns have been ignored for too long.
The demonstration is moving past Pan Africa Shopping Centre before continuing along Joe Nhlanhla Street under a visible police presence.
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Organisers repeatedly urged participants to remain peaceful throughout the march.
Dumisani Nkosi, leader of the Ziyakhala Movement in Alexandra, said the protest was intended to highlight residents’ concerns, rather than target foreign nationals. “South Africans are not xenophobic, even though we have been accused of that in the past. We will not be violent, but the government must listen to the people’s pleas regarding immigration. The people of Alexandra are voters and deserve to be heard.”
Another community leader, Mthokozisi Khambule, described the march as the beginning of a sustained campaign. “Today is the start of the revolution. We will continue making our demands until undocumented foreigners leave the country.
We will not back down because it is a criminal offence to be in the country without the proper documents.”
Khambule also addressed reports that some businesses with legally documented owners had been targeted, saying those claims were hearsay. “We are exercising our constitutional right to demonstrate. The only person to blame for this is the government. Enough is enough.”
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The protest formed part of demonstrations held on June 30, a date that some protest groups had promoted as a deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa. The date is not an official government deadline.
Resident Khethiwe Mbatha explained that he understands why people have taken to the streets to voice their concerns about the alleged loss of jobs taken by illegal foreigners. “I have a business that is not doing well when compared to others owned by illegal foreigners [which are doing well]. If [the illegal foreigners] come back, they must do so with proper documents.”
Police monitored the demonstration as it proceeded, and no incidents of violence had been reported at the time of publication.
This is a developing story.
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