Fear of looting pushes some Joburg CBD traders to close ahead of June 30 protests

Some Johannesburg CBD shop owners and street vendors say they will not open on Tuesday amid fears of looting and unrest ahead of nationwide June 30 protests calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

Traders stay away as organisers call for undocumented migrants to leave

According to IOL, some shop owners in the Johannesburg CBD say they will not open on Tuesday as protests calling for undocumented foreigners to leave the country are expected, with fears of possible looting and unrest. The demonstrations are being led by March and March together with more than 20 civil society organisations, and the group has called on undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by June 30.

Street vendors report slow trade and plan to stay home

According to IOL, some street vendors in the Johannesburg CBD say they will not operate on Tuesday during the June 30 protests over calls for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, as they fear possible looting and unrest. Vendor accounts published by IOL describe reduced footfall and growing fear among those who rely on daily sales.

“I am not going to come here tomorrow. I will just stay at home because when they come here and march they end up taking our stuff.”

According to IOL, a street vendor who said she is from Zimbabwe told reporters she will not be selling on Tuesday because she fears looting.

City movement and security preparations

According to IOL, when IOL News arrived at the Bree Taxi Rank in Johannesburg on Monday ahead of the looming protest, taxis were operating normally, picking up passengers and transporting others to different locations. IOL also reported some business owners closed early as a safety measure, unsure how the situation would unfold.

According to IOL, police and metro police officers were seen patrolling the city as part of maintaining law and order before the demonstrations.

Police appeals and funding shift

According to IOL, Acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane has appealed to the taxi industry to ensure that every taxi association, taxi owner, operator and driver across the country keeps business as usual on June 30. IOL also reported that Acting Police Minister Prof Firoz Cachalia announced R600 million, originally allocated to police stations and community policing, would be redirected to security operations ahead of the planned protests.

Promises of peaceful demonstrations and continuing concerns

IOL reported that the organising groups pledged their demonstrations would remain peaceful and would not lead to violence, looting or loss of life. The protests follow broader tensions over migration, with organisers arguing undocumented migrants are taking jobs and placing pressure on services; those concerns have prompted repeated government appeals for calm, IOL said.

Many of the vendors quoted by IOL said they came to the city to make a living and that fear has affected daily trade. Several vendors told IOL they do not have selling permits but rely on sales to provide for their families.