South Africa’s anti-immigration group, March and March, has announced September 30 as a new deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, escalating its campaign against illegal immigration.
The group issued the ultimatum on Monday while staging a protest outside the 46th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban.
March and March marched through central Durban under the theme, “It’s time to fetch your people,” calling on African leaders attending the summit to take responsibility for their citizens living in South Africa without valid immigration documents.
The group had previously organised nationwide protests on June 30, demanding tougher measures against undocumented immigrants and warning that its campaign would continue until the government addressed its demands.
In announcing the latest protest, BBC News Pidgin reported that the group described the action as the “second wave” of its June 30 National Day of Action and called on regional leaders to prepare for what it described as a major protest on September 30.
The movement also urged South Africans to comply with immigration laws and assist security agencies in identifying undocumented foreigners.
The 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government is taking place in Durban, with leaders from the regional bloc’s 16 member states in attendance.
The protest comes amid renewed debate over South Africa’s treatment of foreign nationals, particularly amid concerns over xenophobia and attacks against immigrants from other African countries.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently condemned discrimination and violence against foreign nationals, expressing concern over reports of people being mistreated or forced to leave the country because of threats of violence.
“We are deeply ashamed that people from other countries have suffered ill-treatment and that others have been forced to leave the country because of threats of violence,” Ramaphosa said.
He added: “We cannot preach integration at a summit like this and practise exclusion on the streets of our countries.”
The June 30 protests were accompanied by security operations, while police reports cited in the earlier account also documented incidents of attacks and looting in some areas.
March and March has continued to pressure the South African government to adopt stricter measures against undocumented immigration. The tensions have also prompted some African countries to evacuate their citizens amid concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals.
The latest protest has brought the immigration dispute directly to the doorstep of the regional summit, where leaders from countries whose citizens are affected by the campaign are gathered.
