The clock is ticking on a deeply terrifying ultimatum that has placed the entire nation on high alert. Supporters of the fierce anti-illegal immigration movement, known as March and March, have officially drawn a line in the sand, giving undocumented foreign nationals a strict deadline of June 30 to pack their bags and leave South Africa entirely.
The harsh declaration comes as tensions between anti-illegal immigration groups and foreign nationals have dangerously escalated in recent weeks. Violent flare-ups and intense standoffs have been taking place in several major cities across the country, transforming once-quiet streets into zones of fear and uncertainty.
Fuelling the fire, a Facebook page named March and March—whose direct affiliation to the official movement could not immediately be verified by authorities—posted a highly inflammatory message to its thousands of followers.
“Enough is enough. We are tired of illegal immigrants. South Africa is not a refugee site for African countries,” the post boldly stated. Among the movement’s uncompromising demands are significantly tighter immigration controls and the immediate, mass deportation of undocumented immigrants currently residing in the Republic.
The very real human cost of this explosive rhetoric became heartbreakingly visible this week in KwaZulu-Natal. Hundreds of terrified foreign nationals desperately sought refuge at the Durban Central Police Station starting on Monday, literally pleading with officers for protection amid escalating fears of targeted attacks by anti-immigration groups. After the police finally dispersed the massive crowd on Tuesday, many vulnerable individuals, including women and children, were left with absolutely nowhere to go. They were forced to spend the cold night sleeping rough outside the Diakonia Centre.
Addressing the chaotic scenes, Police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda explained that disgruntled foreign nationals were taken to the Home Affairs Refugee Centre for processing.
“They dispersed to their residences barring a few who needed further attention from various entities. Police are monitoring the situation,” he said, attempting to assure the public that law enforcement has a grip on the volatile environment.
However, the leadership of the anti-immigrant faction feels entirely differently. In a detailed report on IOL this week, Jacinta Ngobese-zuma, the vocal leader of the March and March movement, fiercely criticised the government’s handling of the border situation, describing it as utterly ineffective.
She stated that the ongoing uncertainty surrounding complex immigration issues stemmed directly from policymakers’ lack of decisiveness and their persistent failure to address the legitimate, pressing concerns of ordinary South Africans.
“Our leaders seem overwhelmed by external pressures while ignoring pressing domestic issues,” she argued passionately. Ngobese-zuma added that her harsh perspective resonated deeply with the growing sentiment among many locals who strongly felt their everyday needs were being overlooked in favour of accommodating foreign nationals.
The situation has become so severe that it has triggered a massive international diplomatic crisis. Ghana has officially issued a dramatic evacuation notice for its people currently living in South Africa amid severe, mounting concerns over the escalating attacks on foreigners in the country.
Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed their emergency plan to evacuate Ghanaian nationals, which was originally meant to start this past Thursday, was unfortunately delayed due to complex logistical issues. The ministry says the life-saving process has only been deferred by a few days. Highlighting the scale of the panic, they added that more than 800 Ghanaians have already registered with the High Commission in Pretoria, desperately seeking a safe flight to return home.
With the threat of violence looming and the international community watching, the African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has stepped in. This week, the ruling party called for an urgent, multi-sector response to directly address the rapidly rising tensions on the ground.
ANC provincial spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica said the frightening situation reflects a growing complexity around illegal immigration. He insists it requires a highly coordinated response involving government institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, human rights advocates, traditional leaders, and religious communities.
Sonjica said the challenge extended far beyond simple law enforcement and demands intense collaboration across all sectors to develop lasting, peaceful solutions to what the party described as an increasingly complex domestic issue.
“The challenge of illegal immigration and its consequences go beyond law enforcement. It demands a collective response from government institutions, the private sector, non-governmental organisations, human rights advocates, traditional leaders, and the religious community, among others,” Sonjica said.
He heavily emphasised that South Africa’s foundational constitutional values must be upheld at all costs while firmly condemning violence and lawlessness in the streets.
“South Africa is a constitutional democracy founded on the rule of law, equality, and human dignity. As such, the ANC condemns acts of violence and lawlessness by anyone, irrespective of their immigration status,” said Sonjica.
However, the ANC also acknowledged the frustrations of the populace, raising serious concerns about illegal immigration, undocumented foreign nationals, criminal syndicates, illegal trading activities, and the blatant disregard for municipal bylaws in some areas.
“In the same vein, we need to accord importance to addressing serious and legitimate concerns regarding illegal immigration, undocumented foreign nationals, criminal syndicates, illegal trading activities, and the disregard of municipal bylaws in certain areas,” Sonjica stated.
To combat this, the party has called for intensified, uncompromising law enforcement action. It urgently requested the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster to convene immediately to address migration management, identified weaknesses in border control, massive system abuse, and related cross-border criminality.
The ANC noted that even as brand new immigration legislation is currently undergoing the lengthy parliamentary process, the existing laws are already more than sufficient to properly manage illegal immigration. It called on the state to implement the law without fear or favour.
“Therefore, the ANC calls upon all sectors to collaborate in addressing what is essentially a global phenomenon that, among other things, requires law enforcement agencies to intensify their efforts to ensure the full implementation of the laws of the Republic,” Sonjica said.
He said South Africa’s national sovereignty must be fiercely protected and its porous borders secured, while simultaneously rejecting the evils of xenophobia, vigilantism, and mob violence against vulnerable individuals. Sonjica added that justice must only be pursued through strictly lawful means and warned against dangerous, irresponsible political rhetoric that fans the flames of hatred.
“The ANC further notes that some among political and community leaders have succumbed to the lure of populism and are acting irresponsibly in handling this moment, seemingly oblivious to the fact that their actions and utterances may create instability and reduce our country to a pariah state amongst the nations of the world. This moment calls for calm and mature leadership to emerge,” he concluded.
