A demonstrator clad in traditional garb rallies against illegal immigration in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 30, 2026. -
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South Africa
Protesters in South Africa have issued a deadline of September 30 for immigrants residing in the country without authorization to depart, warning of larger protests if their requests are ignored.
Ongoing demonstrations have persisted in Durban, where the movement started gaining traction earlier this year.
March and March leader Sphelele Shinga expressed that organizers anticipate up to 1.5 million participants in the forthcoming major protest.
"You should know that all the communities are coming together once again,” Shinga stated. “They are awakening, standing up for their homes, standing up for their nation.”
Shinga asserted that demonstrators aim to “craft a new narrative” on September 30 by insisting that undocumented migrants exit South Africa.
The collective agreed to this course of action due to safety worries following months of protests.
Princess Adjei, a refugee from Ghana, remarked: “We can’t continue to sleep on the streets indefinitely. People have died as a result of living on the streets.”
She mentioned that the group was waiting for buses while their documentation was being checked.
Peace advocates, including Ela Gandhi, showed support for the refugees during the rally.
Gandhi, a former MP and the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, criticized the language used by the protesters.
“The language that these individuals are using is entirely false,” Gandhi stated. “It’s not the migrants who are responsible for the issues they claim.”
The September 30 deadline has heightened the potential for renewed large-scale protests in Durban.
Additional sources • AFP
