Organizers of nationwide anti-illegal immigration protests urged participants to remain peaceful and avoid violence during demonstrations on June 30, 2024 [1].
The calls for restraint come as South Africa faces ongoing tensions regarding undocumented foreign nationals. The potential for unrest during large-scale shutdowns often leads to security concerns and economic disruption in urban centers.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of the March and March movement, said the protests were not intended to be violent. She said participants should refrain from looting and maintain peaceful conduct throughout the day [2].
While protests were planned across the country, a significant focus remained on the Johannesburg CBD in Gauteng [4]. The movement's objective is to protest against undocumented foreign nationals and illegal immigration [5].
Security forces deployed massive resources to manage the crowds and prevent instability [3]. Ngobese-Zuma said the June 30 date was never meant for violence, responding to concerns that the shutdown could trigger lawlessness [2].
The organizers maintained that the protests would proceed as planned despite the security presence [3]. The movement emphasized that their goal is to bring attention to immigration issues through organized action rather than chaos [5].
“The protests were not intended to be violent.”
These protests reflect a volatile intersection of nationalism and socio-economic frustration in South Africa. By explicitly distancing the movement from looting and violence, organizers are attempting to maintain political legitimacy while pressuring the government to tighten immigration controls. The heavy security deployment indicates that the state views these specific gatherings as high-risk for escalating into wider civil unrest.
