MIDDELBURG – The planned provincial march against illegal immigration will go ahead in eMalahleni on 30 June after organisers and the Mpumalanga Provincial Government reached an agreement during a meeting held on 25 June 2026.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu met organisers at the Nkangala District Municipality, accompanied by MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Jackie Macie, Nkangala District Executive Mayor Thomas Ngwenya, senior government officials and law enforcement representatives.
According to the provincial government, the engagement was aimed at ensuring that the demonstration proceeds peacefully, safely and in accordance with the law while protecting the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.
The government said the meeting also sought to promote peace, stability and public safety while minimising disruption to communities, businesses and economic activity.
Speaking to the Highveld Chronicle, march organiser Dikgetse "Slash" Sepenyane said the parties agreed that a single provincial march would take place in eMalahleni, while regional marches would be held in Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni.
"Yesterday, we had a meeting with the Premier of Mpumalanga, Comrade Mandla Ndlovu, the MEC for Safety and Security, Comrade Jackie Macie, in relation to the provincial march that is going to take place on the 30th. In that meeting there were heads of departments and the Provincial Commissioner, where we resolved that there will be one big provincial march. It will be held in Emalahleni on the 30th, while Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni will have regional marches," Sepenyane said.
Sepenyane said organisers intended to hand over what they described as an instruction rather than a memorandum, calling on government to intensify action against illegal immigration.
"The Premier will receive an instruction, not a memorandum. We want the Premier to arrange buses, and where countries have citizens who are in South Africa illegally, they should bring buses and collect them. If they cannot do that, the government must arrange transport to take undocumented foreign nationals to the nearest border posts," Sepenyane said.
Sepenyane also claimed that, despite comments by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni that government would assist undocumented foreign nationals who wished to leave South Africa, there was still no clear implementation plan.
"There are currently no identified collection points or transport arrangements explaining how people who want to leave the country will be assisted. Without involving local structures, the process is likely to fail," Sepenyane said.
Ahead of the provincial march, Sepenyane said organisers planned to distribute notices to undocumented foreign nationals in the Victor Khanye Local Municipality.
"We are going to deliver notices informing people who are in the country illegally to leave. If they do not leave, they will be doing so at their own peril," Sepenyane said.
The Mpumalanga Provincial Government reiterated its commitment to continued engagement with all stakeholders to ensure that the march proceeds peacefully, lawfully and without compromising public safety or the wellbeing of residents across the province.
The 30 June march is being organised primarily by the March and March Movement, a South African civil organisation that has set 30 June 2026 as its deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country.
The movement says its objective is to pressure government to strengthen action against illegal immigration. Following the announcement of a R600 million budget for security measures during the protest, the movement's leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, called on government to use the additional resources, including increased law enforcement personnel, to identify and remove undocumented foreign nationals.
March and March has publicly stated that it is not calling for violence during the marches. However, the organisation has also said it will not accept responsibility for any incidents that may occur during the protests, arguing that protecting the country remains government's responsibility.
This position has drawn criticism from government, with President Cyril Ramaphosa warning citizens not to take immigration enforcement into their own hands. Police have also announced extensive national security deployments ahead of the planned marches.
