Anti-immigration and civil society groups across the country have declared the last day of the month as a deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa. Organisers have warned, should the deadline not be met, a national shutdown and mass protest campaign will follow.

The planned action has sparked concern about the potential for tensions to escalate, particularly following previous unrest in Bloemfontein that resulted in widespread looting and arrests.

‘Socio-economic challenges linked to illegal immigration’ 

National Service Delivery Forum (NSDF) leader Potso Motoko said the organisation would continue supporting the campaign as communities are frustrated by a range of socio-economic challenges, which they believe are linked to illegal immigration.

“On 30 June, of course we have a community programme. It’s not a community programme that we intend to clean our country. It’s a national programme and we do support it as an organisation of the community because people are suffering,” said Motoko.

The debate has placed the issue of undocumented migration firmly in the national spotlight, with Ramaphosa seeking to calm growing tensions. Speaking on the side-lines of the official Youth Day commemoration in Johannesburg on Tuesday (16/6), he cautioned South Africans against acting outside the law.

African sister countries

“No South African must take any action against any person from any of our African sister countries. That is the responsibility of government and government officials,” the president said.

“So the so-called 30th of June, in my view, it’s not an event that is even necessary because we are addressing the challenges that our people are facing and we must not allow South Africans to be duped and be misled by those who want to foster instability in our country. We will not allow that.”

Motoko, however, insisted community leaders have a responsibility to know who is living in their communities. The concerns raised by residents have not been adequately addressed, he believed.

“How do you allow people to rent a house without knowing them? In order to know them you are going to need their documents. The president misquoted us, and also did not answer what we are concerned about … illegal immigrants in our communities.”

They needed to know who was in the country legally, he said. 

“So it’s unfortunate we are going to go on and do that. (W)e never ever commit any crime when we are checking the status of these people. If we don’t check them as leaders and community check themselves, these looting and other things will happen.”

Protest overshadowed by widespread looting

The upcoming march has revived memories of the unrest that unfolded in Bloemfontein on 25 May. A protest organised by the NSDF over service delivery failures, unemployment and concerns surrounding undocumented foreign nationals was overshadowed by widespread looting of foreign-owned shops.

Several roads were blocked with rocks and debris, public transport services were disrupted and businesses suffered losses. Law enforcement agencies arrested more than 160 people in connection with the looting and public disorder. 

Motoko previously distanced the NSDF from the violence, maintaining that the looting was never part of the planned demonstration. It was carried out by opportunistic groups who exploited the shutdown, he claimed.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi  cvdw

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