KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi are leading an engagement with civil society groups following a series of protests across the province over undocumented immigrants.
The meetings come after scores of people took to the streets of Durban in recent days, marching and calling for government to prioritise South Africans. Demonstrators have focused largely on businesses owned by foreign nationals, with protest leaders asking shopkeepers to close their doors.
Among those participating in the engagements are March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and Phakela Umthakathi, both of whom have been at the forefront of demonstrations not only in KwaZulu-Natal but also in the Eastern Cape and Gauteng provinces.
In comments obtained prior to the meeting, one protest organiser voiced frustration over the presence of undocumented immigrants, stating: “We are tired of that and we are saying that we will march and march until we win.”
The demonstrations are not new to the province. According to community accounts, similar actions began about a year ago in the health sector, where individuals were stopped from entering hospitals and asked for identification. The so-called “march and march” movement later shifted to the education sector, centring on Edington Primary School following allegations raised against the institution.
Crime has also emerged as a key concern. Just days ago, buildings in Durban were inspected following allegations that drugs were found on the premises. Thousands of people subsequently took part in a march in that area.
Provincial police commissioner Lt.-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is expected to address questions about whether foreign nationals in the country contribute to crime, and what statistics might validate allegations raised by civil society groups and residents.
Many shops in Durban have now closed as demonstrations continue. Organisers have indicated they will keep marching until their demands are met.
