What began as a large gathering in the Krugersdorp CBD last Wednesday escalated into a tense protest, with police deploying rubber bullets as hundreds of demonstrators voiced concerns over undocumented foreign nationals in the area.

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Hundreds of people gathered at Town Hall to express dissatisfaction over the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in the country. Tensions escalated during the protest, with police firing rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Six people were injured.

Sterkfontein Emergency Medical Services station commander Andre Raijmakers confirmed that four people sustained minor injuries, while two were moderately injured.

One protester, Mvelo Mchuna, said he was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet at close range.

I don’t know why they opened fire on us, and I was shot at close range,” he said.

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Why the protest took place

Protesters raised concerns over undocumented foreign nationals, linking the issue to crime and unemployment in the area.

One protester, Ndoda Zulu, said the situation requires stronger action from authorities. He argued that some employers may prioritise lower labour costs over hiring South African citizens, contributing to unemployment.

Zulu said he supports protest action aimed at pressuring authorities to address the presence of undocumented migrants.

Another protester, Kgosi Masina, said a distinction should be made between people in the country legally and those without documentation. He said individuals with valid permits should be allowed to remain, but expressed concern about the crime he associates with undocumented migration.

He added that protest action is being used by participants to draw attention to these issues and demand stronger enforcement.

Police response

The News contacted the Krugersdorp Police Station commander for comment on the police response, but no response had been received at the time of publication.