Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has issued a direct warning to the “March and March” movement, urging its leaders to cease activities that fall under the mandate of law enforcement agencies. Kubayi emphasized that should violence, looting, or criminality occur during planned protests, organizers would be held accountable for the consequences.
The statement follows a high-level security briefing in Pretoria, where government officials reiterated that the constitutional right to protest cannot be used to justify lawlessness. The intervention comes amid heightened tensions surrounding marches linked to concerns over illegal foreign nationals, with authorities condemning xenophobic violence while affirming commitments to lawful immigration enforcement.
Addressing recent developments, Kubayi acknowledged the evacuation of citizens by a partner government over safety concerns as “regrettable,” but noted such actions are not unprecedented globally. The Minister stated that South Africa is not at a point where the situation is “out of hand,” referencing a United Nations Secretary-General statement from April 27 that the government felt was premature. Kubayi stressed that immigration challenges are a global phenomenon, with nations worldwide grappling with border management and migrant integration.
In response to criticisms from protest groups, Kubayi defended the government’s engagement strategy. During a recent multi-stakeholder meeting, representatives from March and March walked out, claiming the state lacked a concrete action plan. Kubayi explained that the meeting was structured to allow multiple organizations and political parties to participate, and that government officials had presented a comprehensive overview of existing measures before opening the floor for feedback. The Minister noted that some questions posed during the session were based on misinformation, and that officials had attempted to provide clarifications before the walkout occurred.
Kubayi outlined key pillars of the government’s immigration strategy:
- Continued deportation of individuals residing in South Africa illegally, conducted weekly through coordinated operations by the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service.
- Workplace inspections led by the Department of Labour to identify undocumented foreign nationals.
- Enhanced border management through the Border Management Authority (BMA), including deployment of specialized vehicles capable of operating in water, drone technology, and improved surveillance infrastructure.
- Systemic reforms within Home Affairs regarding asylum applications, reinforced by a recent court judgment affirming that asylum seekers whose applications are declined must leave the country and may not reapply while remaining in South Africa.
The Minister also highlighted policy improvements, including a new white paper introducing a “first country of arrival” principle for asylum claims, and the relocation of refugee processing centers from inland locations to border posts to prevent applicants from integrating into communities while awaiting decisions.
Kubayi addressed public frustration by acknowledging that immigration is an ongoing global challenge. “We would be lying to South Africans if we said that once we deport people, there will be no more foreigners,” Kubayi stated, citing examples such as Egypt hosting over 10 million migrants and the United States continuing to manage irregular migration despite border infrastructure. The focus, Kubayi explained, is on strengthening systems to identify and remove those who enter or remain illegally, while protecting those with legal status.
Regarding the June 30 ultimatum issued by March and March for undocumented immigrants to leave the country—a deadline accompanied by threats of a national shutdown—Kubayi urged caution. Referencing the July 2021 unrest, the Minister warned that protests escalating into violence result in property destruction, job losses, and potential loss of life. “If marches get out of hand and something terrible happens, the leaders and organizers are going to have to take responsibility,” Kubayi said.
The Minister appealed to all protest organizers to ensure demonstrations remain peaceful, to follow legal procedures for march applications, and to guard against infiltration by actors seeking to incite violence. Kubayi reaffirmed that while the government respects the right to protest, it cannot permit citizens to undertake law enforcement functions such as raids or passport verification, which remain the exclusive mandate of state agencies.
“We are appealing to all organizations, including March and March: let’s work together to protect the leaders of these organizations, the marchers who support them, and all citizens of this country,” Kubayi concluded.
