PICS | Soweto erupts in spontaneous marches over illegal immigration concerns

Hundreds of Soweto residents carrying sticks and knobkerries marched through parts of the township on Sunday

Hundreds of Soweto residents carrying sticks and knobkerries marched through parts of the township on Saturday, demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa.

This comes as police and government authorities prepare to manage planned marches on 30 June across the country against illegal immigration, where thousands are expected to take part.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) said it is monitoring a series of spontaneous marches in Soweto on Sunday, as groups of residents move through the township toward several police stations.

"The demonstration initially commenced with a gathering at Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown. The marchers are now dispersing into smaller groups and are actively moving toward various local police stations".

According to JMPD, the marches have resulted in multiple moving groups across Soweto, prompting increased police visibility in affected areas.

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) said it is monitoring a series of spontaneous marches in Soweto

The planned march routes and target areas include:

"The core grievance being raised by the demonstrators pertains to concerns regarding illegal immigration.

"While JMPD and SAPS are deployed to manage public order and ensure safety, members of the public should anticipate significant traffic disruptions and delays. in and around the broader Soweto region, particularly on routes leading to Kliptown and the vicinity of the aforementioned police stations".

JMPD and SAPS have urged motorists to exercise caution and expect traffic disruptions, particularly around Kliptown and surrounding routes.

IOL previously reported that  Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has criticised organisers of planned nationwide protests, saying claims that the action serves the public interest are false and that the protests are instead causing economic, financial, human, and diplomatic harm.

Speaking during the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration briefing in Pretoria on Friday, Cachalia said the government has a duty to protect citizens, uphold the law, and ensure the country remains safe and secure.

"There's a narrative out there propagated by those who are organising this reckless and disruptive behaviour that they are acting in the interests of our citizens, in the interests of our people," he said.

"In fact, their behaviour has economic, financial, human, and diplomatic costs, as we heard from Minister Lamola. Indeed, they are acting in a way that harms our citizens' well-being and our national interests".