The anti-foreigner group March and March held demonstrations in Tshwane and Johannesburg on Tuesday and Wednesday, demanding action against illegal immigrants ahead of local government elections. Leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma called for stricter immigration controls, while ActionSA's Herman Mashaba voiced support. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi received a memorandum and was given seven days to respond.
March and March, which gained prominence in KwaZulu-Natal, staged protests in Tshwane on Tuesday, marching from Burgers Park to the Union Buildings, and in Johannesburg on Wednesday from Mary Fitzgerald Square to Beyers Naude Square and the Gauteng Legislature. The group, alongside Operation Dudula, called for the government to address illegal immigration, fix Home Affairs, and deport undocumented foreigners. Businesses closed ahead of the marches amid fears of violence, though organisers urged peace.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the group's leader, told Daily Maverick that March and March relies on donations from supporters. She criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa for not enforcing immigration laws strictly enough. During the Johannesburg protest, Herman Mashaba pledged ActionSA's support, saying, “As a country, we have reached a stage where these foreigners have shown total disrespect to us.” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was booed upon accepting the memorandum, which demands stricter border controls and action against crime linked to immigrants; he has seven days to respond.
Professor Loren Landau of the University of the Witwatersrand warned that anti-foreigner rhetoric could influence the local elections set for late 2026 or early 2027, amid rising distrust of African immigrants from 62.6% in 2021 to 73.1% in 2025. President Ramaphosa, in his Freedom Day address on April 27, cautioned against xenophobia. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned recent attacks on migrants, urging law enforcement action.
