VANDERBIJLPARK – Scores of foreign-owned shops in the Vanderbijlpark CBD were forced to close their doors on July 7.

This comes after angry residents took to the streets during an anti-illegal immigration march.

Led by March and March, the protest drew a heavy law-enforcement presence, with SAPS, private security companies, Home Affairs officials, health inspectors, and other authorities monitoring the situation to prevent chaos.

The demonstrations began at around 11:00, with protesters moving through the civic centre, targeting businesses they claimed were operating without complying with South African laws.

Several shops were shut down during the operation, while many others have not been operating since the morning.

Different officials conducted inspections and checked the legal status of business owners and employees.

Speaking to Ster during the march, Vereeniging Concerned Movement leader Mohanoe Mohanoe said the demonstration was aimed at ensuring businesses comply with the law and that undocumented foreign nationals are identified.

“We came to assess shops in Vanderbijlpark and make sure that compliance is being followed. We closed a few stores that weren’t compliant. Some of the stores that were closed are selling drugs.”

“Police took shopkeepers to verify their documentation. Since the morning, we have closed about eight shops,” he said.

Mohanoe said they are going to hold another march on Thursday in Vereeniging.

“We want to make sure that shops that will be closed won’t operate again. We know there are shops that close on the days we hit their towns; we are going to make sure that there is an assigned team set to monitor such conduct,” he said.

By the end of the operation, about eight shops had been closed, while several shopkeepers were taken in by Home Affairs officials for verification of their immigration documents.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether any arrests or deportations will follow pending the outcome of the document verification process.