Anti-immigration marches are expected across all nine provinces on Tuesday, with demonstrations planned from major city centres to smaller towns, as authorities brace for a day that organisers have widely promoted as a coordinated national push against undocumented foreign nationals.
While the marches vary in size, route and level of official approval, the common thread is that they are expected to unfold simultaneously across multiple municipalities — and, in several areas, through high-traffic corridors that could affect commuters, traders and businesses.
In KwaZulu-Natal, the main Durban march is scheduled to begin at King Dinuzulu Park and proceed through the city towards the Point police station in South Beach. In Gauteng, organisers have planned separate marches in Johannesburg’s inner city, Hillbrow and Midrand, while Pretoria will also see a march moving from Church Square to Sunnyside police station along a broad list of central routes.
Local government and law enforcement agencies in a number of areas have stressed that Tuesday should remain a normal working day, and that municipal services are expected to continue as usual. In some cities, officials have pointed to the importance of following the rule of law and ensuring any protest action remains within the bounds of approved routes and conditions.
Below is a provincial breakdown of where marches are expected to take place, based on details supplied by metros and officials, as well as confirmations on social media and by organisers in certain provinces.
KwaZulu-Natal: Durban march from King Dinuzulu Park to South Beach
In KwaZulu-Natal, the main march is set to take place at King Dinuzulu Park in Durban from 09:00. Marchers are expected to move along Pixley Ka Seme Street to Gillespie Street and continue all the way to the Point police station in South Beach.
The planned Durban route takes protesters through some of the city’s busiest areas, linking the inner city with beachfront precincts and a police station endpoint — a detail likely to place added pressure on traffic management and public order resources along the route.
Gauteng: Johannesburg, Hillbrow and Midrand marches approved by metro police
In Gauteng, various hotspots have been identified. However, only the following marches were approved by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department and the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department.
The first Johannesburg march is planned from Beyers Naude Square in the inner city to Constitutional Hill, running from 08:00 till 14:00.
A second march is expected in Hillbrow, starting at the intersection of Kotze and Hospital streets and ending at the Department of Home Affairs in Plein Street, from 08:00 to 12:00. The route’s endpoint at Home Affairs aligns with organisers’ stated focus on immigration enforcement and documentation, and may draw increased attention from law enforcement given the area’s density and history of tension around migration debates.
The third Gauteng march listed for Johannesburg will take place in Midrand. It is expected to start at the intersection of Dale and Modderfontein roads and end at the Sandton Plant Hire office, from 09:00 to 13:00.
Tshwane: Church Square to Sunnyside police station, with multiple central roads listed
In Tshwane, the march will begin at Church Square and end at the Sunnyside police station from 10:00 to 15:00. Roads to be used include Francis Baard, Lillian Ngoyi, Madiba Street, Nelson Mandela Drive, Kotze Street, Van Boeschoten Avenue, Robert Sobukwe Street and Leyds Street.
The Tshwane route covers a wide span of central streets and avenues, suggesting that traffic disruptions could extend across the CBD and surrounding nodes for a significant portion of the day, depending on turnout and compliance with the scheduled timeframe.
Ekurhuleni: multiple hotspots expected, but routes not yet confirmed
Ekurhuleni metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini told News24 that the metro expected several protests on Tuesday. While he was unable to provide street names, he said hotspot areas included Kempton Park, Tembisa, Thokoza, Actonville and Wattville in Benoni, Katlehong, Vosloorus, Daveyton, Brakpan, Tsakane, KwaThema, and Duduza.
The breadth of the listed hotspots — spanning multiple townships and urban centres — indicates that Ekurhuleni may experience dispersed, localised gatherings rather than a single central march, making coordination and rapid response a key issue for metro authorities on the day.
Free State: Bloemfontein, Thaba Nchu and Kroonstad actions planned
The Mangaung metro said there would be three marches on Tuesday — two in Bloemfontein and one in Thaba Nchu.
The first Bloemfontein march is planned from Batho Community Hall in Fort Hare Street to the Department of Home Affairs at the OR Tambo Building in St Andrews Street, from 08:00 to 12:00. Roads to be used include Fort, Power, Hanger, Charlotte Maxeke and President Brand.
A second Bloemfontein march will start at the Home Affairs office in Moshoeshoe Road, Rocklands, and converge with the other march at the OR Tambo Building — again placing the department’s offices at the centre of protest activity.
In Thaba Nchu, the march will start at the Ratlou Complex and end at the Department of Home Affairs at the Mmabana Cultural Centre, from 09:00 to 12:00.
In Kroonstad, a march is planned from HA Smith to the Kroonstad municipality offices from 09:00, though no confirmed route has been provided.
Limpopo: Tzaneen and Thohoyandou marches confirmed on social media
In Limpopo, two marches were posted on social media and confirmed by March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.
The first is in Tzaneen, starting from the Tzaneen Show Grounds from 08:00, with no confirmed route.
In Thohoyandou, there will be a march from Thavhani Mall at the News Café gate, from 08:00, with no confirmed route.
The absence of confirmed routes in both locations suggests plans may still be fluid, or that organisers are relying on gathering points rather than formal mapped marches — a factor that can complicate policing and traffic planning if large crowds form unexpectedly.
Western Cape: no official street marches in Cape Town, but “unofficial” action anticipated
In the Western Cape, City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said the City had “elaborate plans in place” for security on Tuesday but would not share details so as not to “arm” anyone planning to protest.
While several unofficial marches are expected in Cape Town, Smith said there were no official street marches in Cape Town. He also noted that recent protests in the city had drawn fewer than 20 people each.
“We are working to deport people in the country illegally. We follow the rule of law, and we won’t allow criminality,” he said.
Smith said since the previous xenophobic attacks in 2008 and 2019, the police in Cape Town had increased by 2 000 members.
Northern Cape: Kimberley march from Kemo Hotel to premier’s office
There has only been one march noted in the Northern Cape on social media, also confirmed by Ngobese-Zuma. The march is in Kimberley, from the Kemo Hotel to the premier’s office, from 09:00, with no confirmed route.
Eastern Cape: Buffalo City expects a normal working day, no planned road closures
In the Eastern Cape, the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality said it expected a normal working day on Tuesday.
“At this stage, no road closures are planned, and municipal services are projected to continue to operate as usual,” the municipality said.
As Tuesday approaches, the spread of expected protest activity — from Durban’s beachfront routes to inland towns and mall gathering points — is likely to place pressure on municipal communication, policing capacity and public reassurance, particularly in areas where routes remain unconfirmed or where “unofficial” gatherings may form outside formal approvals. Even where authorities are emphasising normal operations, the number of planned sites across the country suggests a day that could test both coordination and community calm.
