June 30 nationwide protests end largely peaceful amid isolated looting and repatriations

South Africa’s nationwide protests against illegal immigration concluded on Tuesday, 30 June, with authorities reporting that demonstrations across much of the country remained largely peaceful under a heavy security presence.

Who organised the protests and what they demanded

Marches were organised by groups including March and March alongside other anti-illegal immigration organisations. Protest organisers had set 30 June as a symbolic deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country and argued that illegal immigration had contributed to rising unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.

Government and security response

Ahead of the demonstrations, the South African Police Service (SAPS), supported by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in identified hotspots, deployed thousands of officers nationwide. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration said the government remained committed to enforcing immigration laws through constitutional and lawful means and stated:

“Our objective remains clear, we want a South Africa where immigration laws are respected and enforced, where borders are secure, where communities are safe, where businesses compete fairly, and where human dignity and constitutional values are upheld.”

Overall tone of the day

By Tuesday evening, Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said the demonstrations had remained “largely peaceful and non-violent”, thanking communities, organisers, religious leaders and law enforcement agencies for ensuring the protests did not descend into widespread unrest.

Isolated incidents: looting, arrests and deployments

Despite the generally peaceful conduct, isolated incidents of looting, intimidation and clashes with police were reported in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. The SAPS confirmed the arrest of 10 people after opportunistic looting in Delft. Delft was singled out as a flashpoint after opportunistic criminals allegedly targeted a shop on Main Road in Voorbrug.

In Gauteng, SANDF members were deployed to Hillbrow in support of SAPS to stabilise the situation and prevent further unrest. Businesses owned by foreign nationals closed their doors in anticipation of the demonstrations.

In KwaZulu-Natal, police reported multiple arrests linked to attacks on premises owned by foreign nationals: five more suspects were arrested for allegedly breaking into tuck shops, with three of them caught in the act by private security before being handed to police. Two additional suspects were arrested in Mountain Rise, another man in Melmoth was arrested after an alleged robbery, a woman was arrested on charges of assaulting police officers and intimidation, and another man was arrested for intimidation after officers intervened during an alleged assault at an informal settlement in Sydenham.

Fatality reported before the main protest

Although no protest-related fatalities were reported during the demonstrations, a foreign national died while allegedly hiding from protesters on Margaret Mncadi Avenue in Durban on Monday, 29 June. It is alleged that three foreign nationals had broken into a storage facility and remained inside for three days. On Monday night the group reportedly heard noises and believed they were being targeted; one man allegedly jumped from the eighth floor, sustained serious injuries including broken limbs, and was declared dead at the scene. Authorities are still verifying the identity and immigration status of the deceased and the other individuals.

Repatriations and deportations

Authorities reported that 4,286 foreign nationals had been repatriated and a further 419 people deported from affected provinces as part of enforcement operations. The Border Management Authority said more than 9,000 Malawian nationals and about 3,000 Zimbabweans had been repatriated or deported through the Beitbridge Port of Entry over a five-day period before the protests. Separate figures showed that more than 8,200 foreign nationals had been processed for repatriation between 12 and 24 June.

What comes next

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma announced that supporters will continue to take to the streets every Thursday until the government takes action to remove undocumented immigrants. Addressing protesters outside SAPS Point in Durban after thousands marched through the city, Ngobese-Zuma said:

“For as long as they haven’t left, we are marching every Thursday.”

She also warned that the cost to the state of continued security deployments would rise, saying:

“We hope government has budget for another R600 million.”

Reporting by Sinenhlanhla Masilela for IOL.