McKenzie tells PA members to stay away from 30 June anti-immigrant marches

Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has told party members not to take part in planned anti-immigrant protests due to take place on 30 June. Speaking in a Facebook Live address, McKenzie warned members against violence and intimidation, and said the party wants no part in the protests.

Clear instruction from party leadership

McKenzie said during the Facebook Live that party members must not engage in violence or intimidation, “do not assault children, do not assault illegal foreigners that is not who we are, you must not go with the hype, we are not ActionSA.”

He told supporters:

“We want nothing to do with March and March. I’m telling you today, stay far away, I know what is coming.”

Consequences for members who attack migrants

McKenzie warned that any PA member who assaults undocumented foreign nationals would face expulsion from the party, saying:

“I want to warn every member of the PA that if you want to make yourself guilty of assaulting illegal foreigners we will expel you.”

He also said he would not encourage behaviour that could lead to arrests:

“I don’t want to see a PA member at March and March, I’m not a leader who wants to be fashionable like ActionSA’s leader Herman Mashaba, but leading my people to jail. Who’s going to bail you?”

Context: marches and repatriation

The protests, described as a series of anti-migrant actions, have included calls for undocumented migrants to leave the country by 30 June.

Separately, the KwaZulu-Natal Home Affairs manager, Cyril Mncwabe, told Gagasi FM that more than 1 458 Malawian nationals have been transported from Durban to Malawi. The report said the eThekwini Municipality donated buses to assist with the deportation processes.

The source also reported that hundreds of Malawian nationals have been camping in an open field in Sherwood, demanding immediate repatriation, and that the Malawian government had appealed for financial support and humanitarian assistance to help facilitate the return of thousands of its citizens in South Africa.