MTHATHA, EC - Protests against undocumented migrants continue to unfold in various regions across the country.
In Mthatha, hundreds took to the streets ahead of the looming 30 June ‘deadline’.
This is a date set by anti-illegal immigration groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
The province has seen days of unrest after the municipality demolished shipping containers used as spaza shops.
Frustrated locals are blaming foreigners for the blanket crackdown.
READ | Lesufi backs anti-Illegal immigration protests, warns against criminality
Phikolomzi Adonis, of the anti-immigration group alongside civic movement Phakama in the Eastern Cape, said the municipality has ignored repeated calls to deal with the issue of undocumented migrants.
“The whole country is in a standstill because of the illegal immigration crisis. On the 11th of March, when we're here, submitting the petition to the municipality, Home Affairs, Labour, and the police, telling them about the crisis, they seem not to care about this issue.”
According to Adonis, they were supposed to receive feedback from officials on their plan; however, the time has now lapsed, with 14 days gone by with no response to their grievances.
“The president has spoken that we must not take the law into our own hands. But what if law enforcers do not have the appetite for this thing? What must we do as citizens? We are left with no choice when the people who are not here legally are doing criminal activities in our communities.”
During a media briefing on Tuesday in Cape Town, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia once again addressed concerns over the 30 June deadline.
READ | Planned 30 June protest has R600million price tag - Cachalia
He said the police are ready to keep the country safe on the day.
While Cachalia acknowledged that illegal immigration remains a pressing issue, this does not justify unruly behaviour on June 30.
This is as he reiterated that several communities across the country desire peace and stability on the day.
Cachalia stressed that the right to protest shouldn't be used as an excuse for criminality or abusive behaviour.
“Only the police and other officials have the responsibility to enforce the law in a Constitutional democracy... We cannot afford a repeat of what happened in July 2021," Cachalia said.