LIMPOPO – A peaceful protest, largely backed by street vendors in Giyani CBD, brought the town’s main business hub into focus on Tuesday, June 30, as demonstrators fired a stern “warning shot” at the government over the growing presence of undocumented foreign nationals.

The march, which remained orderly throughout, was not aimed at shutting down foreign-owned shops but rather at pressuring national and local authorities to intensify enforcement of immigration and by-law regulations. Protesters warned that unless immediate action is taken, they would take matters into their own hands.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Patrick Mathebula from Humu 14B outlined their grievances and their timeline for action.

“We are here to register our concern about the increasing number of undocumented immigrants, particularly in Giyani,” explained Mathebula.

“Our plan is not to force anyone to close their shops. We are simply firing a warning shot to show that we support the removal of illegal immigrants from the country.”

Mathebula struck a firm tone, warning that undocumented individuals still operating in the area should prepare for a heightened confrontation in the near future. He said the group plans to engage directly with government stakeholders, starting with the Department of Home Affairs, as soon as possible.

“Those who are still here should be prepared to face us soon. From tomorrow, we will be meeting with government stakeholders, especially Home Affairs, to urge them to do their job. Otherwise, we will do it ourselves,” he continued.

Demand to be part of enforcement operations

One of their demands is that they be integrated into official operations aimed at identifying and locating undocumented individuals.

Mathebula insisted that these enforcement efforts must begin in the town centre before expanding to surrounding villages to ensure thorough compliance with the law.

“We want to be part of their campaign to identify and search for people who do not have the required documentation, starting here in town because we want to ensure that people are arrested. The operation must begin in town before moving to the villages to remove anyone who does not have legal documents,” he added.

Concerns over illegal structures

Beyond immigration documentation, the demonstrators also raised urgent concerns regarding the proliferation of illegal structures within Giyani CBD. Mathebula pointed to the numerous shacks and makeshift stalls allegedly operated by undocumented nationals, describing them as one of their main concerns.

“Our next step is to write a letter requesting a meeting with the municipality to establish whether it is aware of these structures and what plans are in place to remove them,” he said.

“If no action is taken, we will do it ourselves,” he warned.

Police presence in the days after

Meanwhile, by Wednesday and Thursday, police vans were seen chasing people around the town, Section F and Risinga View.

The coming days are expected to be critical as the protesters push for concrete commitments, raising the stakes for authorities to act before the community takes independent action.