Randburg residents woke up to a quiet but watchful Tuesday, as the June 30 deadline, set by civic organisation March and March, took effect across the country.

The movement, which has spent the past year campaigning for the mass departure of undocumented foreign nationals from South Africa, had warned of a national shutdown if its demands were not met by Tuesday.

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The deadline has been a source of concern for many communities, with residents and business owners alike unsure of what to expect on the day.

At Randburg Square, the Randburg Sun found the area calm, with no unusual traffic and no signs of disruption to the daily rhythm of the area. However, most foreign-owned businesses in the area remained closed, and three police vehicles were seen patrolling the precinct.

Among the few who chose to open was Ismael Abdul, owner of a fruit and vegetable shop, who said he was fearful but felt he had little choice. He said he needed to make money on the day, despite the uncertainty hanging over the area.

Another trader, who did not want to be named, said trade had slowed to a near standstill. He said everything was moving slowly and that almost nothing was happening on the day, describing it as a lost day for business. He said he hoped things would return to normal on Wednesday, but that Tuesday had brought a significant loss.

Colonel Sipho Dlamini, of Randburg SAPS, told the Randburg Sun that no specific hotspot had been identified in Randburg.

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He confirmed, however, that patrol vehicles would be deployed across the precinct as a precaution, with particular attention on Randburg Square, where Johannesburg Metro Police Department and public order policing officers would be stationed for the coming weeks.

He said SAPS would alert members of the public should any incidents arise.

While there have been no reported incidents in Randburg so far, residents are urged to go about their day as normal and to report any unusual or suspicious activity to SAPS.

The Randburg Sun will continue to monitor developments throughout the day and will provide updates as they become available.

At the time of publishing, 10:00, the stores remained closed.

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