DEMONSTRATORS from the March and March movement made their way from the UKZN Edgewood Campus through Pinetown to a park opposite the Sassa offices where a memorandum of demands was handed over to the SAPS on Wednesday (May 20).

The Pinetown SAPS, Durban Metro Police and private security personnel monitored the march, which was one of several which the movement has held in the City, and different parts of the country, calling on the government to urgently take action on illegal immigration.

The communications officer at Pinetown SAPS, Jennifer Naidu, said the local station extends its appreciation to all roleplayers who assisted in ensuring the safety and stability of the town during the march.

The marchers were greeted with honks from vehicles passing by, and screams, shouts as well as ululations from onlookers expressing support as they pressed on.

Many of the informal traders in the Pinetown CBD had packed away their wares as stores, including large retailers, rolled down their doors as the march snaked through the town without much incident.

It was when the demonstrators reached a certain building on Park Lane and Crompton Street in Pinetown, when the march took a diversion.

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Some marchers forcefully entered a building on the corner of these streets, and later emerged from windows, from where empty capsules were thrown onto the road below.

Police present at the march had to intervene as some of the demonstrators who had entered the building were led out.

The demonstrators continued with attempts to enter neighbouring buildings based on suspicions that these housed wrongdoers.

During the commotion, the throng of demonstrators broke out in hysterical frenzy when one of the movement’s prominent figures, Ngizwe Mchunu, joined their ranks.

Naidu said the memorandum was received by the acting station commander of the Pinetown SAPS, Colonel Ronnie Heeralall.

“The united efforts, visibility, and assistance of all roleplayers played a vital role in ensuring that the march remained peaceful and that the community of Pinetown remained safe throughout the day,” said Heeralall.

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