Thousands of protesters marched through Durban's Point area on Wednesday to demand stricter enforcement of immigration laws [1].

The demonstrations highlight growing tensions regarding illegal immigration and its perceived link to crime in South Africa. Supporters of the movement argue that the government must prioritize the rights of citizens over foreign nationals.

The march was led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and the March and March movement [2]. The group moved the protest to Durban following previous demonstrations held in Gauteng [3]. Protesters alleged that illegal foreigners are linked to criminal activities, specifically drug possession and distribution [3].

During the event, police arrested two illegal foreign nationals who were found in possession of drugs [4]. The arrests occurred as the crowd moved through the Durban central business district [1].

Reports on the size of the gathering varied among observers. Some sources estimated the crowd consisted of hundreds of people [3], while other reports described the turnout as thousands of protesters [1].

Ngobese-Zuma said the government should prioritize the rights of South Africans [5]. The movement continues to push for more aggressive policing of immigration status and the removal of undocumented individuals from the country [3].

“Police arrested two illegal foreign nationals who were found in possession of drugs.”

The shift of the March and March movement from Gauteng to Durban indicates a broadening geographic scope for anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa. By linking illegal immigration directly to drug-related arrests, the movement seeks to frame immigration enforcement as a primary solution to urban crime and public safety concerns.