Civil society organisations and political parties marched in the Durban area this week to protest undocumented immigration and related social issues [1].
These demonstrations signal a growing intersection between grassroots civic frustration and formal political strategy. By aligning with the March and March lobby group, political parties are tapping into deep-seated public anger over national security and local governance.
Thousands of people participated in the movement [3]. The protests focused on the presence of undocumented immigrants, which organizers said link to rising crime rates and a decline in municipal service delivery [1, 3].
Several political parties joined the demonstrations, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, and the Inkatha Freedom Party [1, 2]. The events took place across multiple locations in the region, with reports placing the marches in Pinetown, west of Durban, as well as the Durban city centre [1, 3].
There are conflicting reports regarding the exact timing of the events. Some reports indicate the marches occurred on Tuesday, while others said they took place on Wednesday [2, 3].
The March and March movement describes itself as a response to political disillusionment [3]. Protesters said the government has failed to manage borders effectively, a failure they said impacts the quality of life for legal residents.
“Thousands of people participated in the movement”
The alignment of established political parties with the March and March lobby suggests that undocumented immigration and municipal failure have become potent electoral tools. This synergy between civic organisations and political entities indicates a shift toward populist rhetoric in the region, as parties seek to capture the momentum of grassroots disillusionment to gain leverage in future political contests.
