Peaceful protest march held in Kempton Park amid national demonstrations

Kempton Park residents gathered on Pascoe Avenue on the morning of June 30 before marching to Highveld Avenue as part of the ongoing national protest action.

The demonstration was closely monitored by SAPS, EMPD, private security companies, the Kempton Park Community Policing Forum (CPF), AfriForum and other stakeholders.

The march proceeded without incident, with a visible law enforcement presence maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of participants and the wider community.

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Resident Ishmael Tsotetsi, who participated in the march, said the demonstration was intended to call for government intervention while remaining peaceful.

“We are here peacefully. We are marching as South Africans and raising our voices. We are asking the government to hear us and have compassion regarding what is happening in this country.

“We don’t have a problem with foreigners as long as they are here legally. If they are in the country illegally, then they must leave.

“As SAPS is here with us, we are asking them to help us. We don’t want to fight with immigrants. We want government to hear us when we say we have no issue with people who are in the country legally,” said Tsotetsi.

The march continued along several streets, including West Street, where demonstrators stopped outside the Department of Home Affairs.

Protesters called on the department to work with the government to ensure foreign nationals residing in South Africa are properly documented.

The group later proceeded along Pretoria Road to the Civic Centre, where participants called for municipal services to be provided to documented immigrants.

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Both the Home Affairs office and the Civic Centre were closed at the time.

Protest activity was also reported on Isando Road, towards Barbara and Kraft roads, where authorities continued to monitor the situation.

In Thembisa, sporadic protests were reported in various areas. Several businesses and shopping centres closed as a precaution while law enforcement maintained a heightened presence in identified hotspots.

Kempton Park CPF Sector 2 executive public relations officer Izelle van den Berg said the CPF acted as a liaison between the community, SAPS, law enforcement agencies, private security companies and other stakeholders throughout the operation.

“Prior to the march, the CPF participated in a planning meeting with SAPS, private security companies, AfriForum and other stakeholders to discuss operational plans, communication channels and safety measures,” she said.

“On the day of the march, the CPF maintained close communication with all role players, assisted with information sharing, monitored developments and supported coordinated efforts to ensure the event remained peaceful and that any concerns were addressed promptly.”

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Van den Berg said a comprehensive operational plan had been implemented by SAPS and supporting agencies.

“The CPF supported these efforts by encouraging responsible behaviour, promoting continuous communication between stakeholders and helping to identify and report potential concerns.

“A visible presence by SAPS, CPF members, private security companies, AfriForum and other stakeholders helped deter unlawful behaviour and contributed to a peaceful event.”

Authorities urged residents to remain calm, avoid areas where demonstrations were taking place, report criminal activity through official channels and refrain from sharing unverified information on social media.

Kempton Express requested comment from Kempton Park SAPS. No response had been received by the time of publication.