As hundreds of residents wrapped up a largely orderly anti-illegal immigration march in Alexandra on the evening of June 30, the day’s peaceful momentum gave way to scenes of violence and opportunism that many had dreaded, leaving one man dead.

During the day, the demonstration drew significant numbers, with protesters shutting down multiple roads as they moved through the Alexandra streets. Community leaders coordinated closely with law enforcement, helping to keep the main march disciplined and within legal bounds.

Read more: Protester sustains injuries after alleged assault in Setswetla informal settlement

Sibabalo Mgijima, chairperson of the Alexandra Community Policing Forum (CPF), praised participants for responsibly exercising their constitutional right to protest. A memorandum was later handed over at the Alexandra Police Station, underscoring the group’s core grievances.

Yet as the crowds began to disperse, some protesters exploited the occasion to loot foreign-owned spaza shops along Joe Nhlanhla Street between 8th and 9th Avenue. According to the police, during the looting incident, shots were fired, and a man was fatally wounded. Police did not reveal if the victim was among the group or just a passerby.

Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that a murder docket has been opened, and investigations into the deadly incident are underway.

In a separate incident, but also linked to the June 30 marches, tensions boiled over in the Setswetla informal settlement. A breakaway faction of demonstrators moved along Florence Mophosho Road and entered the area when a confrontation between them and the residents ensued.

Sabelo Dlamini, one of the injured, arrived at the police station bleeding from wounds sustained in the clash. Paramedics treated him on site. Dlamini said the group that he was prostesting with did not initiate the violence.

Also read: Government calls for peaceful protests on June 30 over illegal immigration concerns 

“We did not fight with them [Setswetla residents]. They might have thought that maybe we were assaulting people, but we never fought with anyone,” he said, adding that attackers may have mistaken the protesters’ intentions.

Mgijima, who had been monitoring events since earlier in the week, attributed the Setswetla violence to the fragmentation of the main protest group. “When groups separate, it becomes difficult to prevent the occurrence of such incidents,” he explained. He also pointed to alcohol consumption among some participants as a factor that heightened tensions and risked further escalation.

Despite the tensions, Mgijima reiterated that the bulk of the demonstrations remained peaceful and orderly. The CPF indicated it would seek additional updates from authorities on the Setswetla confrontation.

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