A Zimbabwean political analyst, Gideon Chitanga, says the South African government should address undocumented immigration through the rule of law and also investigate who is driving and funding anti-migrant protests. His comments come as demonstrations targeting undocumented foreign nationals intensify in the run-up to next year’s local government elections.
Chitanga highlights protests reported in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, where demonstrators focus on alleged illegal immigration. He argues that beyond responding to the immigration issue itself, authorities should look into the coordination and “broader agenda” behind the protests, including identifying potential organisers and sources of support. The call is framed as a need for accountability and transparency around who benefits from, and who mobilises, the demonstrations.
The outlets describe the analyst’s position as urging a structured inquiry rather than treating the protests as spontaneous events, emphasizing that any response should be grounded in legal processes while the government assesses both immigration enforcement needs and the funding and leadership behind the protests.
