DUTYWA, EASTERN CAPE — The ongoing anti-illegal immigration campaign across the Eastern Cape has intensified significantly, with hundreds of demonstrators taking to the streets of Dutywa to demand immediate state intervention regarding undocumented foreign nationals before a strict June 30 deadline.
Following large-scale gatherings in Mthatha, the protest movement shifted its focus to Dutywa. Law enforcement officers were heavily deployed, lining the routes and slowing down traffic along the N2 highway as the crowds moved through the central business district. The atmosphere briefly grew volatile when activists targeted a local shopping complex, ordering it to close its doors. The demonstrators argued that normal business operations should not continue while their core grievances regarding undocumented migrants remain unaddressed.
Speaking on the broader objectives of the movement, a spokesperson for the protest organizers emphasized that the June 30 date is a firm ultimatum. If the state does not meet their demands, the spokesperson warned that the anti-illegal immigration campaign will persist and expand. The organizers heavily criticized the state’s current strategy, arguing that authorities are merely reactive rather than taking a proactive stance.
“The government is not proactive in the approach,” the organizer’s spokesperson stated, characterizing the authorities as “very responsive” and “very passive.” They pointed out a glaring contradiction in the state’s narrative: while officials recently claimed that undocumented foreigners were being apprehended and removed, new arrivals continue to enter the country daily.
“It means the government is not doing enough,” the spokesperson asserted, adding that coalition groups opposed to illegal immigration will maintain their pressure until decisive action is taken regarding foreign nationals.
At the conclusion of the march, protest leaders formally submitted a memorandum outlining their demands to local government representatives. A municipal spokesperson received the document and committed to providing a formal reply, but noted that coordination with various national government departments would be required first.
When questioned about the expected turnaround time for a response, the municipal spokesperson indicated flexibility, stating the reply “can be tomorrow” or it “can be in 21 days.”
As the June 30 cutoff looms, the movement shows no signs of slowing down. With the anti-illegal immigration campaign now expanding into additional towns across the Eastern Cape, organizers view the Dutywa demonstration as a critical escalation in their efforts to force government action.