Cape Town march hands memorandum to Home Affairs, vows to target all undocumented foreigners

Anti-undocumented migrant groups marched through Cape Town’s central business district on Thursday, delivering a memorandum to the Department of Home Affairs and demanding stronger immigration enforcement and administrative audits.

Who marched and why

Members of March and March, the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO), Operation Dudula and supporters marched along Long Street before stopping at the Department of Home Affairs and Parliament. Organisers said the march aimed to press Home Affairs to intensify efforts to identify and deport undocumented foreign nationals.

Message from march leaders

March and March Cape Town leader Charlie Roux said the campaign targets all undocumented foreign nationals regardless of nationality or race. She told supporters:

“A misconception that we want to clear as a group is that we are only coming for black African nationals from countries like Zimbabwe and Nigeria who are undocumented and in the country illegally. This is not the case. You will find Asians, Chinese and others. We are coming for every undocumented foreigner who is in the country illegally. It does not matter the colour of their skin.”

Demands in the memorandum

The memorandum handed to Home Affairs called for several specific measures, including:

• a halt to the issuing of certain immigration documents until corruption within the system is addressed;
• a freeze on foreign documentation and cancellation of permits obtained through bribery or fake documents;
• a comprehensive digital audit of business permits, work permits, trading permits and asylum documents issued over recent years;
• closer cooperation between the Department of Home Affairs, the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority to verify the immigration status of foreign nationals arrested for criminal offences.

Roux said the group wanted a response from Home Affairs within 14 working days. An official from the Department of Home Affairs accepted and signed the memorandum on behalf of the department.

Context and reaction during the march

Organisers said turnout was smaller than previous demonstrations but that numbers did not reflect the level of support for the campaign. Protesters marched despite cold, rainy weather. As the march moved through Long Street, several businesses temporarily closed while protesters chanted slogans calling on government and law enforcement to act against undocumented migrants.

The groups have repeatedly argued that undocumented foreign nationals contribute to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services; the report noted those claims remain contested. Government has consistently maintained that immigration enforcement must take place within the law and has warned against vigilantism and xenophobic intimidation.

Next steps

Outside Home Affairs, Roux told supporters: “South Africa belongs to its citizens first. We demand an action plan from Home Affairs within 14 working days on this.”