As the marchers moved from the City of Joburg to Hillbrow and Yeoville, tensions almost escalated with the burning of dustbins and throwing of stones reported.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Crime, overcrowding at local healthcare facilities, and drugs being sold on street corners were some of the biggest issues pointed out by marchers who took part in the Johannesburg protest calling for illegal immigrants to leave South Africa.
This march, which was led by former radio personality turned activist Ngizwe Mchunu, kicked off in Jeppe city centre, with multiple stops in Hillbrow, Berea, and Yeoville, before wrapping up with an address at Kwa Mai-Mai on Tuesday.
"We are tired of drugs. Here in Hillbrow, there are many places openly selling drugs without any police intervention. Go to Braamfontein, Yeoville and other street corners, you will see people selling drugs," said a Yeoville-based protestor, Minenhle Mhlambi.
As the march gained ground, the streets of Hillbrow in Johannesburg reverberated with chants calling for the immediate deportation of illegal immigrants from South Africa. While the protest unfolded relatively peacefully, tensions were palpable as some nearby residents allegedly hurled stones and bottles at the demonstrators, with some in the crowd also retaliating.
The Joburg march, aimed at highlighting the frustrations surrounding illegal immigration, was not without its moments of unrest. From time to time, police were forced to quickly intervene to maintain law and order.
Ngizwe Mchunu commended marchers who joined the Johannesburg leg of the countryside protests calling for illegal migrants to leave the country.
Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers
Mamiki Modau, a resident of Hillbrow who chose to watch the protest from the Hillbrow police station, voiced her frustration with the South African government.
"The problem is that our government does not listen to us. If they did, none of this would be happening," she lamented. Modau expressed concern for ordinary South Africans who, despite their efforts, are struggling economically while witnessing younger people, even those with degrees, remaining unemployed.
Another resident, Elizabeth Sibiya, highlighted the strain on public services, particularly in healthcare. "It is truly difficult being a South African. Here at the Hillbrow Clinic, nurses are overworked and underpaid. They simply cannot cope with the number of people who come for healthcare, and to tell you the truth, most of them are undocumented foreigners," she explained, painting a picture of an overstretched system grappling with demand.
Also among the marchers was Nokukhanya Mpande, a social worker who articulated a growing concern within her profession. "Foreigners are preferred by NGOs, leaving local social workers unemployed. Having worked for NGOs, I know that sometimes social workers stay more than three months without being paid their salaries. This makes it easier for foreign nationals to be employed in the profession as they are paid far less than South Africans," Mpande observed.
As the march neared its conclusion, Mchunu, who spearheaded the Johannesburg leg of the protests, praised the marchers for their commitment to self-deportation policies for illegal immigrants. "We are not here for politics, and if we do not involve politics, our government will be forced to listen to us whether they like it or not. Above that, as we depart, I plead with you not to attack or destroy people's property. I do not want to hear that there has been damage and destruction," he urged the participants.
Attempts to get comment from the provincial police department were unsuccessful at the time of publication. However, earlier in the day, the South African Ministry of Police had announced several arrests related to looting and attempted looting, a reminder of the underlying tensions faced by many as they navigate ongoing economic difficulties. The Ministry confirmed that the South African Police Service (SAPS) had been actively monitoring the marches planned throughout the country, as law enforcement strives to maintain peace during this fragile time.
In Soweto, Kuthie Thondlana of the Liberation Struggle Veterans of South Africa commended marchers for ensuring a peaceful protest, saying clear communication and discipline between the marchers and law enforcement agencies were central to a peaceful protest.