LYDENBURG, MPUMALANGA — Residents of Lydenburg in Mpumalanga have taken to the streets to demand the departure of undocumented foreign nationals, leveling serious allegations of systemic corruption against officials from the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Labour.
The protesting community expressed deep frustration over what they describe as the deterioration of their town due to illegal immigration. Beyond immigration concerns, locals are highly alarmed by a rampant drug dealing problem, which they directly attribute to the influx of undocumented foreigners. The protesters accused local police of failing to take decisive action against these drug syndicates in the area.
A central focus of the march was the alleged complicity of government departments in facilitating illegal operations. Protesters are demanding transparency and feedback from the Department of Labour regarding the exact number of documented and undocumented foreign workers operating in the region.
Furthermore, march leaders raised severe allegations of corruption, claiming that certain officials are fraudulently issuing permits and documents to undocumented foreign nationals, allowing them to run businesses within the town illegally.
A spokesperson and leader of the march, emphasized the community’s exhaustion with the alleged maladministration and the economic impact on locals.
“We are here to say to the Department of Labour and Department of Home Affairs that enough is enough with this kind of corruption. We can’t take it anymore,” he stated. The leader argued that the local economy is being hijacked, claiming the town’s opportunities are being “stolen away from the people of Lydenburg,” who are supposed to be the primary beneficiaries of the area’s commerce.
Highlighting the alleged extent of the document fraud, he claimed that fraudulent paperwork is being shared on a massive scale to bypass legal requirements.
“Most of these undocumented foreigners, those who claim to be having documents, they are all using one document for almost 100 people,” he alleged, adding that the community is fully aware of these tactics and wants the practice brought to an immediate end.
The community has outlined aggressive next steps to enforce their demands and reclaim their town. Residents announced plans to conduct community-led raids on all businesses in Lydenburg this coming Thursday. They are calling on the police to intervene, arrest those operating on the wrong side of the law, and initiate the deportation of undocumented individuals.
