JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been deployed to key areas including Hillbrow and Durban to assist with public order policing following widespread anti-immigration marches across the country. The deployment comes as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration held an urgent media briefing in Pretoria to address the security situation, outline policy responses, and manage the fallout of demonstrations organized by the March and March movement.
During the extensive briefing, government officials described the day’s nationwide protests against undocumented immigration as a significant operational success. Authorities noted that swift planning and coordination over the preceding weeks successfully averted a repeat of the July 2021 unrest, which previously saw widespread violence and infrastructure destruction across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Justice Minister and Inter-Ministerial Committee Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi, and Police Minister Firoz Cachalia led the media engagement. The ministers expressed initial concerns that a “third force” might hijack the peaceful protests to vandalize public and private infrastructure, loot businesses, and destabilize the country. However, they confirmed that these threats were largely neutralized by a massive law enforcement presence.
Despite the largely peaceful nature of the main marches, isolated incidents of criminality were reported. Authorities confirmed that a vehicle was set alight in the Hillbrow and Yoville areas, and looting was attempted in KwaMashu. Furthermore, a shooting incident in Hillbrow left two people injured. Eyewitnesses reported that a resident, feeling threatened by the approaching marchers, opened fire on the protesters. Law enforcement has emphasized that all individuals involved in criminal acts, including the shooting and arson, will face the full might of the law.
The March and March movement had indicated plans to continue protesting every Thursday until undocumented foreign nationals are removed from the country. Addressing this, the Inter-Ministerial Committee highlighted a R600 million budget recently allocated to secure borders and manage migration. Police Minister Firoz Cachalia noted that the continuous weekly marches appear to carry a political agenda aimed at influencing the upcoming local government elections. He warned against external elements exploiting ethnic tensions to incite violence, urging the nation to remain united.
To quell dangerous situations and support the South African Police Service (SAPS), the SANDF was deployed to hotspots such as Hillbrow, Yoville, and Durban. In Johannesburg, armored military vehicles were stationed near the iconic Ponte building in Hillbrow to maintain a visible security presence throughout the evening. Additionally, the government refuted allegations regarding the mistreatment of foreign migrants at repatriation centers, specifically addressing claims about a lack of ablution facilities at the Beit Bridge and Musina processing centers for individuals being returned to countries like Malawi.
On the ground in the Johannesburg CBD, the situation remained relatively calm by the evening as marchers dispersed. The primary protest route saw thousands of participants walking approximately 30 to 40 kilometers round-trip, moving from Bezuidenhout Square through Hillbrow and down to the Mai Mai market. While some splinter groups attempted to divert into areas like Jeppestown and Jules Street in Malvern, a massive contingent of SAPS, Metro Police, and private security swiftly intervened to prevent widespread looting and protect business owners.
Law enforcement authorities continue to patrol the city, and the SANDF remains on standby to ensure public safety as the government transitions from managing the day’s protests to addressing the underlying policy and migration challenges.
