OLIEVENHOUTBOSCH — Residents of Olievenhoutbosch in Centurion have issued a strict seven-day ultimatum to local authorities to take decisive action against undocumented migrants, threatening to take the law into their own hands if their demands are not met. During a peaceful march to the local police station, community leaders handed over a memorandum detailing escalating grievances surrounding illegal immigration, housing disputes, and a surge in criminal activities in the area.
The demonstration follows broader protests that took place on June 30. A community convenor organizing the march noted that while the area was quiet on June 30 because undocumented migrants had temporarily hidden or left, the community returned to the streets on July 1 to continue their demands. The convenor also referenced a separate two-week deadline previously issued on a Tuesday for the Sunnyside area in Pretoria, another identified hotspot for illegal immigration.
“Our community has been complaining to the police about illegal migrants, but they are doing nothing about it,” the community convenor stated, emphasizing that the march was not political but purely to address community grievances. The organizer alleged that landlords are renting properties to undocumented foreigners, and when community members report this and tell the occupants to leave, police claim they are not responsible for who occupies the space. The convenor gave the local station commander a seven-day deadline to enforce immigration laws, deport undocumented individuals, and clean the streets. Furthermore, the convenor criticized the government for allegedly paying out 600 million in a single day while citizens face severe unemployment, arguing that undocumented foreigners should be deported.
A primary grievance highlighted by the community is the illegal occupation and sale of Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. A local community leader explained that some South African beneficiaries, facing dire life circumstances, are selling their RDP houses to undocumented foreigners who lack legal papers. “The RDP houses are not supposed to be sold to foreigners; they are meant for South Africans,” the leader said, calling on the Tshwane Municipality to answer how undocumented migrants acquired these properties. Observations during the march noted that some of the RDP houses in the area are currently in poor condition.
Residents also detailed a sharp escalation in criminal activities and safety concerns. The community leader reported that a body was discovered in a trench just a week prior, fueling a lack of trust in local law enforcement. Residents cited ongoing issues with drug-related activities and scrapyards stealing electrical cables, which results in power outages lasting two to three days. Additionally, a resident recounted a recent violent incident where a young woman was attacked on the street and suffered a severed arm while attempting to defend herself.
Further allegations include claims that Somali-owned spaza shops are selling expired and poisonous food to children. The community convenor also raised concerns about the strain on public services, noting that the local Olievenhoutbosch Clinic is too small and experiences excessively long lines due to the high number of undocumented migrants utilizing the facilities.
The community expressed deep frustration with the local police station’s capacity and responsiveness. The convenor alleged that officers take up to 30 minutes to respond to general crime reports, though they respond swiftly to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) incidents. The organizer demanded that the station commander delegate his powers to his officers to ensure active law enforcement, specifically requesting that police enforce the law to maintain the closure of foreign-owned businesses and deport individuals by the following weekend. The community leader added that the local police station is too small for the rapidly growing township, estimating that only 10% of the officers effectively do their jobs while the remaining 90% are inactive. It was noted that while police occasionally conduct patrols, shops that are temporarily closed during these operations simply reopen afterward.
In response to the growing tensions, the Tshwane Metro Police Department (TMPD) conducted an operation on Friday in and around Olievenhoutbosch. In accordance with the Immigration Act, law enforcement arrested 29 undocumented foreign nationals. The TMPD stated that the arrests demonstrate their ongoing commitment to enforcing immigration laws and upholding safety and security within the City of Tshwane.
Despite the community’s vow to take the law into their own hands if the seven-day deadline passes without action, local religious leaders have intervened to maintain calm. A church representative emphasized that while residents have a constitutional right to protest, the demonstrations must remain peaceful. “We need to preserve human life and make sure that everything happens safely and does not put anybody’s life in danger,” the religious leader stated, urging the community to prevent the protests from turning violent.
Conversely, not all residents support the expulsion of migrants. Another concerned citizen voiced humanitarian considerations during the gathering, questioning where the undocumented migrants would go if chased away. She suggested that instead of focusing on deportations, the government should prioritize taking care of its own citizens and addressing the root causes of the community’s struggles.
As the seven-day countdown begins, the community awaits the police station commander’s response to the memorandum, with convenors assuring that the current march remains peaceful while they monitor the situation closely.
