Eleven undocumented foreign nationals were detained during a large anti-illegal immigration march that drew more than 1 000 people to the streets of KwaDukuza last Thursday.

The arrests followed a march led by the March and March movement after participants identified several buildings in the town centre that they alleged were occupied by undocumented foreign nationals.
The demonstration began with about 200 participants before swelling to more than 1 000 by midday as it moved through the KwaDukuza CBD.

Business activity in parts of the town slowed significantly, with many foreign-owned shops remaining closed as the march passed through.

Police accompanied the march and inspected several buildings along King Shaka Street and Hulett Street that had been identified by residents. One building was found to be empty. At another property, six foreign nationals were detained after allegedly failing to provide documentation.

A further five foreign nationals were taken in for questioning after police searched another nearby building.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma – a former radio personality and civic activist based in Durban – said they were responding to concerns raised by residents.

“Today we came to KwaDukuza. It’s a community that has been complaining about the influx of illegal immigrants,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma said the movement’s primary objective was to put South Africans first and ensure government departments responded to community concerns.

“Our mandate is really to put South Africans first. That’s our main priority,” she said.
She welcomed the police operation, saying residents were encouraged by the visible law enforcement presence.

“It’s about the community being happy because they are the ones who have to stay behind. The people whose everyday reality is that of being overcrowded by illegal immigrants are fighting for their community,” she said.

Organisers handed over a 13-page memorandum to KwaDukuza municipality calling for stronger border security, the deportation of undocumented immigrants, tighter immigration controls and greater co-operation between government departments and law enforcement agencies.