Leaders of anti-migrant movements and several civil society groups, including the March and March movement, have insisted that the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa remains unchanged.

At a press conference on Wednesday, June 24, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the March and March movement, said the date was not chosen by the group but by South Africans who want to see changes in the country.

Ngobese-Zuma clarified that there are no plans to shut down the country on that day. She also emphasized that their target is not only black foreigners but all foreign nationals living illegally in South Africa.

Responding to questions from journalists about what would happen on June 30, she said the demonstrations are expected to remain peaceful and rejected accusations that the movement promotes violence against foreigners.

Ngobese-Zuma and representatives of several civil organizations stated that the demonstrations are intended to pressure the government to enforce immigration laws, strengthen border security, and address what they describe as an illegal immigration crisis.

“The June 30 deadline has never been about violence. It has never been about shutting down the country. It has never been about harming anyone. We are simply asking illegal immigrants to leave our country and for the government to enforce existing laws,” she said.

The June 30 deadline has become a rallying point for several civil organizations that support the March and March campaign against illegal migration.

Organizers claim that communities across South Africa and South Africans living abroad support the initiative because they believe the government has failed to address concerns about porous borders, pressure on public services, and high unemployment.

Despite fears that the protests could escalate and create tensions, Ngobese-Zuma maintained that organizers are committed to peaceful action and condemned those who accuse them of encouraging violence.

South Africa’s police minister recently met with national commissioners as part of preparations for the planned demonstrations.

According to local media reports, the minister said South Africans have a constitutional right to protest but warned that authorities will not tolerate lawlessness or violence.

The government stated that its objective is to ensure that all foreign nationals living in South Africa do so legally and possess valid documentation.

South Africa’s Minister of Justice, Mmamoloko Nkhensani Kubayi, has also been monitoring the departure of some foreign nationals from the country by bus as part of migration management efforts.

Kubayi, who serves on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, also met with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini of KwaZulu-Natal to discuss government efforts to manage migration.

Acting Police Minister Cachalia also held discussions with Defence Minister Motshekga regarding the June 30 demonstrations, although details of the meeting have not been made public.

Areas Already Affected

The protests have already had an impact in several provinces, including:

Gauteng

KwaZulu-Natal

Western Cape

Eastern Cape

As the deadline approaches, many African migrants, especially Nigerians, are increasingly worried about their safety and uncertain about what may happen when the protests begin.

Reports have circulated that some African countries are helping to evacuate their citizens from South Africa.

Due to previous anti-foreigner protests that resulted in harassment of migrants, countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi have begun repatriating some of their citizens.

Many immigrants have reportedly lost their businesses, homes, and livelihoods during past incidents of xenophobic violence.

Nigerian trader and businessman Wilson Oghodero told the BBC that Nigerians living in South Africa are under pressure. He said some groups have threatened to conduct house-to-house checks for immigration documents after the June 30 deadline.

This has increased anxiety among Nigerians who remain in South Africa, including those who have registered to leave the country.

Although one group of Nigerians has already returned home, another expected group has not yet departed, and the reasons for the delay remain unclear.