South Africa — Anti-illegal immigration protests have grown significantly across South Africa, with thousands of demonstrators marching nationwide in what organizers describe as a call for economic justice and border enforcement. Police have strengthened their presence throughout the country, with heavy law enforcement contingents escorting the processions.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, spokesperson for the March and March movement, addressed the crowds, describing the demonstrations as a united effort by South Africans of all backgrounds—white, black, Indian, and colored—seeking a safe and prosperous nation. The movement, launched 17 months ago, has traveled across the country raising awareness about irregular migration and its impact on local communities.
Ngobese-Zuma emphasized that South Africa remains the most unequal society in the world, with youth unemployment averaging over 40% nationally. She framed the protests not as xenophobia or ethnic mobilization, but as a fight for social well-being rooted in historical grievances.
“South Africans were dispossessed of their land. They were stripped off their economic freedom and they were reduced into slaves in 1802,” Ngobese-Zuma stated, referencing when the Dutch established colonial rule. She argued that fellow Africans migrating irregularly to South Africa seeking employment have instead been reduced to modern-day slaves by what she described as the ruling capitalist class.
The spokesperson cited the Employment Service Act 4 of 2024, specifically Section 8, which states that no employer may hire a foreign national within South African territory without that individual producing a valid work visa. The legislation also requires employers to verify that no suitable South African candidate is available before recruiting foreign workers.
Ngobese-Zuma questioned why foreign nationals are employed in restaurants and domestic work when many South Africans depend on social grants and could fill those positions. “We want our people to be employed. We want them to run successful businesses,” she said. “Where is the xenophobia in that?”
She also highlighted that tuck shops in townships and rural areas are now predominantly owned by foreign nationals from Pakistan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, characterizing this as an economy that has been “hijacked” from its rightful owners.
The movement’s leader expressed gratitude for countries that have responded positively to repatriation requests and acknowledged the government’s efforts in establishing campsites for illegal immigrants. She described the day’s march as a significant moment, calling it a “D-day” for addressing illegal immigration in the country.
Ngobese-Zuma invoked the legacy of South Africa’s forefathers, stating there is nothing wrong with taking to the streets when citizens are tired of their government’s inaction. She called for true Pan-Africanism and a prosperous Africa where economic systems work for all 54 African nations, emphasizing the fight against what she termed modern-day slavery.
The protests reflect growing tensions around immigration policy, employment, and economic opportunity in a country grappling with some of the world’s highest inequality and unemployment rates.
