March and March pickets SADC Summit
March and March delivered their anti-illegal immigration message to African leaders at the 46th SADC Summit.
Foreign-owned shops along Joe Slovo Street had to quickly bring their shutters down and temporarily close as March and March supporters once again brought Durban to a standstill this afternoon (August 17).
The crowd, which was accompanied by a large police contingent, had to be diverted from their original route through the Durban CBD amid security concerns. The protest was staged to coincide with the opening of the 46th SADC Summit which is being hosted at the Durban ICC.
Starting over two hours late, the anti-illegal immigration protesters were led by movement founder Jacinta Ngobese Zuma as they marched from Durban City Hall to Gugu Dlamini Park. March and March spokesperson Sandile Dube said the picket is aimed at getting the message of “Abahambe (they must go)” to the African leaders who are attending the Summit.
He called on foreign nationals in the country to make them account. “These are their presidents who are attending the summit, they must make them account for what is happening in their countries that has forced them to come and live in South Africa illegally,” said Dube.
Also Read: March and March marks one year with Durban protest
Marching under the theme of ‘It’s time to come and collect your people’, Dube said the message is very clear. “They must go.”
This was echoed by supporters of the movement, some draped in the South African flag, who held up placards and banners while calling for undocumented foreign nationals to “go back home”.
“They must go back to their own countries and apply to come back to South Africa legally. We are not a Banana Republic where people can do as they please,” said Musa Msomi who was among the protesters.
By 13:00 they had reached the Durban Exhibition Centre where they had a heated exchange with law enforcement, leading to police officers with riot shields being called to block the gate. The group’s memorandum was handed over and the crowd disbursed.
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