March and March

Thousands of South African protesters marched against illegal immigration in Johannesburg on June 30, 2026, with authorities reporting mostly peaceful demonstrations despite some looting. Protest groups, including March and March and Operation Dudula, blamed migrants for unemployment and crime, while the government rejected their demands and emphasized lawful immigration enforcement.

Thousands of police were deployed across South Africa to address large-scale anti-immigration protests that turned violent, resulting in at least four deaths and widespread looting. The protests, linked to a June 30 deadline for removing illegal migrants, involved clashes in multiple cities and were led in part by the 'March and March' group.

South Africa deployed police in multiple cities to manage protests against illegal immigration, as groups like March and March, Operation Dudula, and Progressive Forces demanded the immediate departure of undocumented migrants. The protests, which included traditional weapons and national flags, were met with government warnings against violence, while migrants from Zimbabwe and Malawi sought repatriation due to fears of attacks.

Thousands of people participated in anti-migrant protests across South Africa, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town, organized by the group March and March. A large police presence was deployed to prevent violence and intimidation during the demonstrations.

The UN is closely monitoring South Africa's planned protests against undocumented migrants, and Amnesty International accuses March and March of encouraging unlawful 'citizen's arrests' of suspected migrants.

South Africa is preparing for potential violent anti-migrant protests organized by March and March, which set a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave. The government has deployed 600 million rand in security measures, while businesses and officials brace for unrest amid historical tensions and recent clashes. Past violence, including the 2021 looting and arson, has caused billions in economic damage and heightened fears of recurrence.

President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that immigration enforcement is the state's responsibility, not private citizens or groups. March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma claims the Criminal Procedure Act allows citizen arrests, but the law does not specify undocumented status as a valid reason for such arrests.