EMALAHLENI — An estimated 1 500 people took to the streets of eMalahleni on Thursday, 04 June 2026, as the March and March movement marched from Vosman to the Witbank Central Business District (CBD), commonly known as Downtown, to hand over a memorandum demanding stronger action against illegal immigration and greater protection of the township economy.
The march culminated in the handing over of a memorandum to eMalahleni Executive Mayor Vusi Nhlapho, with organisers giving the municipality seven days to respond to their demands.
Addressing supporters, Sandile Dube from the movement’s national office outlined several demands contained in the memorandum and stressed that the campaign would continue beyond the march.
Among the demands, the movement is calling for the immediate suspension of the granting and processing of refugee applications, the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals and amendments to the Border Management Authority (BMA) Act to allow the authority to operate inland. The movement also wants immigration officers and border policing functions currently under SAPS to be transferred to the BMA.
Another key demand is for government to allocate more resources towards border security, including the construction of border fencing, and for President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare illegal immigration a state of emergency to unlock additional financial and operational resources.
The memorandum further calls for legislation and municipal by-laws that would reserve township businesses for South African citizens.
“We call upon the government to stop the granting and processing of all refugees’ applications with immediate effect,” said Dube.
“The march is over, but the struggle continues. March and March is still coming to eMalahleni until these concerns are addressed,” he said.
Receiving the memorandum, Nhlapho committed the municipality to working alongside local communities in addressing challenges related to undocumented foreign nationals and strengthening the township economy.
“We started this fight two years ago. We will not allow the selling of our land, and those who are in eMalahleni illegally must leave us,” said Nhlapho.
He reassured organisers that seven days was more than enough time to provide a response, saying the municipality’s efforts were already evident on the ground.
“We are going to stop at nothing in making sure that the township economy is returned to the residents of eMalahleni,” he said.
Meanwhile, SAPS confirmed that the march proceeded peacefully under the monitoring of police and other law enforcement agencies.
According to police, members of SAPS, the Department of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies conducted operations linked to the march, during which 14 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested after being found without valid documentation to be in South Africa.
Acting Mpumalanga Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi said police would remain vigilant while encouraging communities to work through lawful channels.
“While communities have the right to raise their concerns through lawful and peaceful means, we strongly discourage any form of vigilantism. We encourage people to work together with law enforcement agencies and report criminal activities through the proper legal channels,” said Mkhwanazi.
According to reports from eMalahleni FM, eMalahleni Local Municipality law enforcement officers and SAPS also conducted raids a day after the march in areas believed to be housing undocumented foreign nationals and suspected drug dealers, including parts of Jellico and French streets.
Several arrests were reportedly made during the operations as authorities intensified efforts to enforce immigration and other laws.
The concerns raised by the marchers come as government is reviewing its broader approach to migration. Addressing the media on 05 June 2026, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet had received and approved a comprehensive approach to migration in South Africa developed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, as well as the National Action Plan (NAP) Country Report on Migration in South Africa.
Ntshavheni said President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation and provide further details on the committee's report and government's proposed interventions, although no date for the address was announced.
