Protesters plan to return to Montecasino this week after management declined to engage directly over allegations of hiring undocumented foreign nationals.

“The answer was no, again,” said a captain in the West Rand public order police, reporting back to protesters after approaching Montecasino management on their behalf during a third demonstration at the establishment.

For Puleng Makgetsi, one of the protest leaders from the Clay Oven informal settlement, another refusal was not the end of the road. “We don’t want these undocumented foreign nationals to continue within here while we are unemployed in our own country. We want them out so that our people can work.”

The latest protest marked the first time the March and March movement joined the campaign. Its leader in the precinct, Phila Dlamini, said he had come to listen to the different stakeholders and help find a way for the protesters to engage with management. “We want to sit down with the management. That’s what we are asking. We are not fighting.”

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The captin agreed to approach management, promising to return with feedback. However, the response he delivered was disappointing for the group. “They refuse again,” he told the protesters, explaining that Montecasino forms part of a larger corporate group with centralised management and recruitment procedures.

According to the feedback he received, job seekers had to apply through the group’s online channels rather than submit CVs directly at the establishment. He also said management disputed allegations that a memorandum submitted during an earlier protest had been torn up.

Regarding CVs placed in a box, he said management maintained that applicants themselves had torn up the documents after becoming frustrated with the process. Management reportedly raised concerns about collecting applicants’ personal information in a box, saying this could contravene the Protection of Personal Information Act.

On allegations that undocumented foreign nationals were employed at the establishment, the captain said management had told him that immigration officials conducted regular inspections of its outlets and restaurants. Montecasino declined to comment directly to the media.

The latest demonstration also comes amid tensions surrounding an earlier protest, during which two sisters were arrested for allegedly contravening traffic by-laws. Makgetsi said the sisters were later received at Douglasdale Police Station. “One of the sisters claimed to have been assaulted by the police, allegedly sustaining bruises during the arrest. They plan to open a case against them.”

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The police denied having assaulted the women and confirmed that they were arrested for contravening traffic by-laws during the protest. More than 40 police officers were deployed during the latest demonstration, following an earlier protest at which job seekers threatened to return in larger numbers.

Despite the police presence and the latest setback in their attempts to meet management, the protesters say they are not prepared to walk away. Jacob Shika, one of the protest leaders, said the group planned to march again this week, with the intention of disrupting performances of Mamma Mia! The Musical at The Teatro, Montecasino, which runs from October 16 to November 22, 2026.

He said the aim was to discourage people from attending the show.

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