Durban, South Africa – On 30 June 2026, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the March and March Movement, addressed crowds in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, declaring that anti-illegal immigration protests would continue every Thursday. She stated that the campaign would persist because not all undocumented foreign nationals had left the country by the unofficial deadline set by the movement.
Ngobese-Zuma spoke to thousands of marchers at the conclusion of demonstrations held across multiple cities, including Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, and Cape Town. Protesters carried placards calling for stronger border security and priority for South Africans in employment and public services. Organizers framed the actions as a response to high unemployment, crime, and strain on resources, which they attribute in part to illegal immigration.
The 30 June date originated from the March and March Movement’s earlier calls for undocumented immigrants to self-deport. Ngobese-Zuma and allied civic organizations had emphasized that the deadline was driven by South African citizens seeking government action on immigration enforcement, not a formal shutdown. They repeatedly clarified that the protests targeted illegal immigration specifically, not legal foreign nationals or individuals based on nationality.
In her address, Ngobese-Zuma questioned why foreign nationals were reportedly prioritized for jobs in sectors such as restaurants and domestic work, and noted the prevalence of foreign-run tuckshops in townships and rural areas. She referenced incidents involving unsafe products sold in spaza shops, including the deaths of children in Soweto, and asked, “Where is the xenophobia in putting South Africans first?” She stressed that the goal was for South Africans to secure employment and own successful businesses.
Ngobese-Zuma gave the government a six-month period to address the remaining undocumented immigrants through deportations and stricter enforcement. She indicated that weekly Thursday marches would continue for up to six months if necessary, framing the day’s events as the beginning of sustained pressure on authorities.
The protests occurred amid heightened security deployments across the country. Reports indicate the demonstrations concluded relatively peacefully, with no major incidents of violence widely reported. Police maintained order as crowds gathered. Thousands of migrants, including many from Malawi, had already begun leaving South Africa in the lead-up to the date.
President Cyril Ramaphosa rejected the self-imposed deadline as unlawful following meetings with some leaders. Government officials and critics described the movement as potentially xenophobic, while organizers and supporters, including figures like Ngizwe Mchunu and Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, maintained it focused on law enforcement failures, border security, and prioritizing citizens amid South Africa’s approximately 33% unemployment rate.
Ngobese-Zuma has previously defended the movement against accusations of promoting violence, urging participants to remain peaceful and placing responsibility for any lawlessness on government policing and border control. The March and March Movement has grown from activities in KwaZulu-Natal to other provinces, popularizing demands for compulsory immigration law enforcement, halted refugee processing in certain contexts, and mass deportations of undocumented individuals.
The events reflect longstanding public debates in South Africa over immigration policy, economic pressures, and service delivery. As of 30 June 2026, Ngobese-Zuma commended the disciplined conduct of demonstrators and reaffirmed the commitment to ongoing action until undocumented immigrants are removed.
Further developments are expected as the government responds to the sustained calls and weekly protests.
