Demonstrators from civil organisation March and March have marched through Mbombela to demand urgent government action on unemployment, crime and immigration laws, reports Lowvelder.

The group gathered at Makro in Riverside before marching to the Mpumalanga provincial government headquarters yesterday (September 17) to submit their memorandum.

During the demonstration, March and March deputy provincial convenor Nomandla Ndlovu accused police of widespread corruption and collusion with criminal syndicates.

Public Order Policing officers monitored the march to prevent possible violence.

Marchers demand job protection and safety

Marcher Sylvia Dlamini told Lowveld Media that she and many others had travelled from the Mpumalanga Highveld to attend the handover.

“If one looks at the recent murders of women in Gauteng, one can see that enough is not being done to curb the scourge of GBVF in the country. It is along this line, therefore, that we decided to come and march here in Mbombela to prevent the same attacks happening in Gauteng from happening here as well,” said Dlamini.

Another marcher, Nokulunga Mathabela of Mbombela, said unemployment was a major problem in Mpumalanga.

“We are aware that many employers give jobs to undocumented foreign nationals at our expense. We demand that immigration laws be strengthened to prevent this unwarranted situation,” said Mathabela.

Police respond to claims

Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo said police had a duty to protect both marchers and people not involved in the march.

“As the police, we have the mandate to protect everyone, including those involved in marches and those not involved. The marchers have a constitutional right to march peacefully without damaging property. We protect the rights of the marchers as well as those of other people and their property. This is the reason our members monitored the march today,” said Masondo.

Regarding the allegations of police involvement in criminality, Masondo said anyone with evidence supporting the claims should provide it to the authorities for investigation.

Mpumalanga Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Jackie Macie received the memorandum on behalf of Premier Mandla Ndlovu.

Macie’s spokesperson, Mandla Chauke, said the MEC would hand the document to the premier and address security concerns raised by the group.

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Members of March and March in Mbombela on Thursday, September 17.

♬ original sound – Lowveld Media

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