Tembisa residents march for urgent action on crime and illegal immigration

Hundreds of residents marched in Tembisa on 17 June 2026 calling for urgent government and police action to tackle rising crime and the impact of illegal immigration on the township, organisers said.

Who took part and where the march went

According to IOL, the protest was led by local activist Xolani Khumalo in collaboration with the Tembisa Community Forum and other stakeholders. The march began at Birch Acres Mall and concluded at the Tembisa police station.

IOL reported that the crowd included civic organisation leaders such as Nkosikhona “Phakelumthakathi” Ndabandaba, Ngizwe Mchunu and Zandile Dabula, and involved members or leaders from groups including the United South Africans and the Community Defence Unit (CDU).

Demands and the memorandum

Outside the police station, organisers delivered a memorandum outlining the community’s grievances. According to IOL, the memorandum demanded that police intensify efforts to combat crime and called for undocumented migrants to vacate the country so the community could begin to resolve its problems.

Voices from the march

Protesters told reporters they link rising crime and unemployment in the area to illegal immigration.

“I think the issue of illegal immigration has gone on for a long time. It is time that we, as South Africans, gather together and ensure that those who are illegally here leave us to resolve our own issues. Once they leave, they can come back as visitors,”

said Sibongile Njilo, a resident who joined the march, as reported by IOL.

United South Africans leader Musa Mbewe was quoted by IOL saying:

“We are one-dimensional, we are speaking in one word – they must go home. This is not even personal. I don’t understand why we are supposed to be explaining ourselves so much, but this is also a sign and a gesture that we are doing this peacefully. This is merely a request to say these are the challenges that South Africans are dealing with daily.”

In the same coverage, IOL quoted Khumalo as saying the community wants undocumented migrants to leave so local problems can be addressed:

“We are here because of the problems we have as members of this community. We are saying that all undocumented migrants who are here illegally should vacate the country so that we can begin to resolve our problems,”

the report said.

Police response and calls for co-operation

IOL reported that Brigadier Cyril Nkuna acknowledged the community’s concerns and called for partnership between police and residents to tackle crime. He pledged to increase efforts and appealed for public cooperation in pursuing safety and security.

Diverging views noted in coverage

The IOL article also included comments from other national and labour voices who cautioned against blaming migrants for structural economic problems. At a separate media briefing, Gerald Twala of Nedlac said the country’s economic crisis is rooted in issues such as economic stagnation and mass unemployment rather than migration, according to IOL. SAFTU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi was quoted condemning vigilantism and xenophobic attacks and arguing that removing foreign nationals will not by itself restore jobs or rebuild public services, the report said.

What organisers said

Organisers framed the march as a peaceful request for urgent action from government and law enforcement. Xolani Khumalo, one of the movement’s leaders, emphasised the need for practical responses rather than discussions removed from community realities; organisers also used the protest to press for increased policing and enforcement measures, IOL reported.

According to IOL, hundreds of residents and community organisations participated in the march on 17 June 2026.