March and March stages anti-immigration protest at SADC summit in Durban

An anti-immigration movement in South Africa, March and March, has issued a fresh ultimatum, demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country by September 30, 2026.The group staged a protest outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban on Monday, marching under the slogan “It’s time to fetch your people.” They called on African leaders attending the summit to take responsibility for their citizens living in South Africa without legal documentation.This marks the second wave of demonstrations following nationwide protests on June 30, during which the group demanded tougher government action against undocumented immigration. In its latest statement, March and March described the upcoming deadline as “the mother of all protests,” warning of mass deportations if its demands are not met.The movement urged South Africans to act as “eyes and ears of the police” against illegal foreigners, intensifying fears of renewed xenophobic tensions.President Cyril Ramaphosa, however, has condemned discrimination and violence against foreign nationals, saying:“We cannot preach integration at a summit like this and practise exclusion on the streets of our countries.”Past protests have been accompanied by security crackdowns and reports of attacks and looting. Several African governments have already evacuated citizens amid rising hostility.By staging its latest protest at a regional summit, March and March has placed the immigration dispute directly before leaders of the 16-member SADC bloc, many of whose citizens are affected by the group’s demands.

March and March staged an anti-illegal immigration march through Durban on Monday, calling on SADC leaders to “fetch” their citizens living in South Africa without proper documentation.

As the 46th SADC summit unfolds in Durban, the March and March movement plans a protest demanding stricter immigration policies and accountability for employers hiring undocumented migrants, highlighting growing tensions over immigration in South Africa.

The March and March movement is set to hold a protest on the final day of the SADC summit in Durban, demanding stricter immigration policies and accountability for employers hiring undocumented migrants.