POLOKWANE – Tension over undocumented foreign nationals is mounting in the city following the latest demonstration by the March and March Movement in the central business district last Thursday.

The group handed over memorandums to the Department of Home Affairs and the Polokwane Municipality.

The movement’s Limpopo leadership is represented by Mogau wa Modimo, Monna Tia and Matlala Maremane. They said the unusual names were adopted for security reasons amid alleged hostility towards members from other provinces.

WATCH: Members of the March and March Movement march through the Polokwane CBD under police escort before handing memorandums to the Department of Home Affairs and Polokwane Municipality on Thursday (October 29). https://t.co/M9OmeMjjM6

— Polokwane Observer (@PolokwaneObserv) November 5, 2026

Why the group marched

The march followed the appearance in court of two former Home Affairs officials and a civilian in the Free State, accused of operating a photograph-swapping scheme in 2023. They allegedly used the identity details of South African citizens while replacing their photographs with those of 10 Pakistani nationals to obtain fraudulent passports at R10 000 per application.

According to the department, 44 people have been arrested and 98 officials dismissed for corruption since July 2024.

March and March alleges that similar corrupt activities are taking place in the city, enabling identity theft used to access municipal tenders, RDP houses and marriages. The group also claims that township spaza shops are registered using the identities of South African residents in exchange for rent.

Meanwhile, the Sekhukhune Magistrate’s Court is expected to hear an urgent application on November 27 for the restoration of Mathala Tuck Shop in Ga-Phaahla. This follows an order by Kgoshi Letsiri Phaahla instructing foreign-owned spaza shops to vacate by September 30.

In a separate matter in May, the Pietermaritzburg High Court interdicted Inkosi Langalibalele Mayor Mduduzi Myeza from entering 38 foreign-owned shops in Estcourt without following lawful inspection procedures.

Demands to Home Affairs and municipality

In its memorandum to the municipality, the group called for stricter enforcement of bylaws governing illegal businesses. It also wants action against traffic officers who fail to impound unregistered vehicles operated without valid licences, the closure of spaza shops being used as living quarters, and action against citizens who harbour undocumented persons.

The memorandum to Home Affairs calls for coordinated enforcement operations with the police to facilitate deportations. It also demands joint audits with the departments of Labour, Social Development, Health and Education, as well as the Deeds Office, to address alleged fraudulent identities, welfare beneficiaries and property ownership.

The demands follow the national spaza shop registration drive conducted between November 2024 and February this year. During that period, the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism processed more than 5 700 applications, including 484 from foreign nationals.

Monna Tia said the struggle for change required the same determination shown during the fight against apartheid. “Struggle stalwarts of apartheid did not think of the price they would need to pay should they be unsuccessful during the fight against apartheid. We are living in the same spot to attain correction,” he said.

Response expected within 14 days

Both the municipality and Home Affairs have undertaken to respond to the memorandums within 14 days.