The March and March Movement has given the South African government until 30 June to take decisive action against undocumented immigrants, warning that citizens have grown frustrated with what it describes as weak immigration enforcement and porous borders.
The movement participated in an urgent meeting convened by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Ministers to address escalating anti-immigration protests across the country. Following the meeting, the organisation intensified its calls for stronger border security, mass deportations of undocumented foreign nationals, and an increase in the number of immigration officers to enforce the country’s laws more effectively.
March and March Gauteng convener, Sandile Dube, said undocumented immigrants were contributing to several challenges facing the country, including criminal activities such as drug dealing. He accused government of failing to take the concerns of South Africans seriously despite repeated complaints about illegal immigration.
“We are concerned by the Minister of Defence’s remarks, as they may cause foreign nationals to view the 30 June deadline to leave the country as just another empty threat or temporary shutdown announcement. This creates the impression that the government does not take the concerns of South Africans seriously. Many South Africans feel they have had enough of illegal immigration and want undocumented foreign nationals to be removed from the country, ” said Dube.
The movement has also rejected accusations that its protests are driven by a single ethnic group. Speaking during a media briefing in Durban, organiser Sanele Khambule said the campaign had gained support in several provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo and the Eastern Cape, proving that it represents a broader national concern.
“We wouldn’t be in Limpopo today, we wouldn’t have had a successful march in Johannesburg and Pretoria. We are doing our best to unite South Africans irrespective of race, irrespective of cultural beliefs, towards the notion of ending illegal immigrants and ensuring that our borders are not porous,” Khambule said.
The organisation maintains that stricter immigration enforcement is necessary to restore law and order and protect local communities. Its demands include tighter border controls, improved monitoring systems, and the large-scale deportation of undocumented foreign nationals as government faces increasing pressure to respond to growing public protests over immigration.
