Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma, leader of the March and March movement, said illegal immigration remains a persistent problem in South Africa after a June 30 [1] deadline.
The continued protests signal a deepening rift between civil society movements and the government over border control and immigration enforcement. The unrest has already led to significant legal repercussions, with more than 900 [2] people arrested during anti-migrant protests.
Ngobese‑Zuma said the movement has organized 25 [3] anti-illegal immigration marches across the country. These demonstrations have taken place in various locations, including Johannesburg and Mthwalume. During a recent appearance in Mthwalume, she said, "We are here in Mthwalume to continue our fight against illegal immigration" [4].
The movement asserts that the government failed to act on its concerns, making street protests a necessity. "If the government had listened to our concerns, we would not be on the streets," Ngobese‑Zuma said [5].
This friction comes amid broader organizational efforts to challenge state policy. During a press briefing on June 24, more than 20 [6] civil-society organizations were present to support the movement's objectives. The protests represent a second leg of coordinated action aimed at forcing a change in how the state manages illegal immigration.
“"We have confirmed 25 anti‑illegal immigration marches across the country."”
The persistence of these marches after the June 30 deadline suggests that the March and March movement views the government's current immigration strategy as a failure. The high number of arrests indicates a volatile security environment where political grievances are manifesting as civil unrest, potentially pressuring the government to adopt more stringent immigration enforcement to maintain public order.
