By Anita Dangazele
- The March and March movement brought 1,500 people to Emalahleni’s CBD on Thursday, demanding all illegal foreign nationals be deported immediately.
- Home Affairs ran a live screening operation alongside the march and found 14 people without valid papers, who were arrested and charged.
A national movement calling for the mass deportation of foreign nationals brought 1,500 people into the streets of Witbank on Thursday.
By the end of the day, 14 people had been arrested and a memorandum demanding sweeping immigration action sat on the mayor’s desk.
The march was part of the March and March movement, which organised communities across the country to push for government action on illegal immigration.
In Emalahleni, marchers left Vosman park at around 9am and moved through the CBD before arriving at the offices of the Emalahleni Local Municipality.
There, they handed a memorandum to mayor Clr Vusi Nhlapho.
“We call upon the government to stop the granting and processing of all refugees’ applications with immediate effect,” said Sandile Dube, from the national office of the movement.
“We also call for the immediate massive deportation of all illegal foreign nationals in the country.”
While the march was under way, the Department of Home Affairs ran a screening operation alongside it. Police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli said 14 people were found without valid documentation and arrested.
“It was during this time when it was discovered that amongst them, 14 had no valid documentation to be in South Africa, hence they were apprehended then charged accordingly,” Mdhluli said.
Police said the day passed without major incident.
Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General Dr Zeph Mkhwanazi said communities have the right to protest, but warned against taking matters into their own hands.
“We strongly discourage any form of vigilantism,” he said.
“We encourage people to work together with law enforcement agencies and report criminal activities through the proper legal channels.”
Mdhluli confirmed the march ended peacefully with the handover of the memorandum.
Pictured above: Community members march through the Witbank CBD as part of the national March and March movement on Thursday.
Image source: Supplied
