Anti-illegal immigration group March and March says it will proceed with its planned national shutdown on June 30, calling on illegal foreigners to leave the country, despite the government calling for calm following high-level talks on rising protests over undocumented migration.
This follows an urgent meeting at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday, between ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster to address rising protests over illegal immigration.
The meeting focused on growing demonstrations against immigration and undocumented foreign nationals across the country.
Security cluster ministers and senior officials responsible for national security attended the discussions in Tshwane.
Ministers also met political parties, groups and associations involved in mass protests and community marches against undocumented foreign nationals.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, March and March member Sanele Dube said the group was concerned by remarks made by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga about the planned shutdown.
“We are concerned by the Minister of Defence’s remarks that the 30 June date we have given for illegal foreign nationals to vacate the country is being treated as just another shutdown,” Dube said.
“For us, it seems the government does not take South Africans seriously.”
“South Africans are saying they have had enough of illegal foreign nationals and want them removed from the country.”
Dube said the movement rejected claims that its campaign was xenophobic or ethnically driven.
“We want to make it very clear that our call is not xenophobic. It is a call centred on the national security of the country, and we want to protect South Africa and South Africans,” he said.
He added that support for the movement extended beyond KwaZulu-Natal.
“Jacinta (Ngobese-Zuma – the leader of the movement) was in Cape Town recently, where residents are also raising concerns about illegal foreign nationals. In Rustenburg, there will be a March and March gathering, and plans are underway in Limpopo. This is not a Zulu issue. It is a South African issue.”
Speaking at a media briefing on the same matter, Motshekga said citizens had a constitutional right to protest.
“The 30th of June is within their rights. There is nothing to panic about,” she said.
She said the right to protest also came with responsibilities and warned against unlawful conduct during demonstrations.
“We have seen incidents during some marches that cannot be overlooked,” Motshekga said.
“While South Africans have the right to protest and their anger and frustration are understood, the government is also hard at work.”