CHAOTIC scenes unfolded at the March and March protest in Durban today a when a bucket of dark liquid, suspected to be paint, was thrown into the crowd, allegedly covering 48 people who had to seek urgent medical attention when the substance covering faces, arms and clothing began to harden and become itchy.

The bucket came hurtling down from a multi-storey building at the corner of Peck Road and Dr Pixley KaSeme Street, leading to a threat of confrontation between the residents of the flats and protesters who were joined by members of MK Party, IFP, and Action SA.

March leader Jacinta Ngobese Zuma said they will be demanding answers to why the large contingent of police officers did not act in time to prevent the confrontation that ensued.  The marchers left Durban City Hall at around 10:30 destined for Point Police Station, located in an area of South Beach which they say is the hub of illegal immigrants.

Also Read: SAHRC takes March and March leaders to court

“We are tired of the police not acting on illegal immigrants and shying away from their duties,” said Simangele Gumede who was among the protesters.

As they marched, stopped now and then to shout “go home” and “arrest illegal foreigners” to people looking through their windows, their destination was Point Police Station where they handed over a memorandum of demands.

Among their 52 demands they listed several concerns and a warning to government “of the ticking time bomb, the erosion of every element of a sovereign state, the tales of the two cities that has left many young South Africans vulnerable and prone to drugs and prostitution, mostly facilitated by undocumented and illegal immigrants”.

The memorandum read, “The illegal immigrants who have taken over Point Road and many parts of our Cities have contributed immensely in the increase of identity theft, fraud, human trafficking, illicit drug trade, murder, extortion and organised crime in general. The rule of law continues to be undermined, and our economy is ailing due to activities of such rogue elements who sell counterfeit goods.”

It further stated , “The March and March Movement challenges the South African Police Service to fulfil its constitutional mandate to safeguard the citizens and intervene as a matter of urgency to ensure that the city is clean, safe and free from these criminals syndicates.

“We call upon the SAPS, the Department of Home affairs to remove, arrest and deport all the illegal immigrants who have declared Point Road as a no go area for South Africans. The government must as a matter of urgency investigate, dismiss and criminally prosecute all metro police officers and police officers who accept bribes, collect a protection fee from drug and human trafficking syndicates operating in our City.”

The memorandum was accepted by Colonel Sithole and representatives from the City who were given seven days to respond.

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