Residents from multiple Benoni-area communities convened at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton today for a public demonstration organized under the “Mabahambe” banner, calling for urgent government action on undocumented immigration, rising crime, and persistent service delivery shortcomings.
Speaking at the gathering, organizers Jane and Oupa articulated the march’s central objectives. Jane emphasized that the community seeks the temporary departure of undocumented foreign nationals to allow South Africa to address domestic challenges. “We have a lot of problems. We have a lot of crimes that are being committed. When you try to find a person, you can’t find them because they are untraceable. They don’t have documents,” Jane stated. She urged foreign nationals to return to their countries of origin to resolve local issues there, specifically mentioning neighboring Zimbabwe.
Oupa highlighted pressures on municipal resources and concerns about document fraud. “We give them services for free and we also experience issues in our services… issues of water, issues of electricity is because now our country is overpopulated,” Oupa explained. Both organizers clarified that their position is not a permanent exclusion, but a call for foreign nationals to reapply through official channels from their home countries while South Africa addresses internal priorities.
The spokespersons pointed to demographic patterns in Daveyton’s informal settlements as evidence of strain. Oupa claimed that in certain human settlements, foreign nationals comprise approximately 90% of residents, with South Africans forming a small minority. They associated this shift with heightened criminal activity, referencing recent vehicle hijackings uncovered in a settlement in Gabon and the presence of illegal miners—”zama zamas”—whom they allege originate largely from outside South Africa.
Addressing questions about whether removing undocumented migrants would resolve systemic service delivery failures, the organizers argued that easing population pressure would enable authorities and communities to redirect focus toward rehabilitating local residents, particularly those struggling with substance abuse. “The future of South Africa should come back to the people and economy as well,” Oupa said.
Following the speeches, participants proceeded on a march through Daveyton’s streets, reiterating demands for strengthened immigration enforcement and improved community safety measures.
The demonstration reflects continuing public discourse in South Africa regarding migration policy, resource allocation, and local governance. Organizers of the “Mabahambe” initiative indicated their intention to sustain advocacy efforts until concrete responses are received from government officials.