JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been actively deployed to Hillbrow and Durban to maintain public order following widespread anti-immigration marches. As thousands of demonstrators took to the streets demanding stricter border control, the government mobilized military armored vehicles to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the Johannesburg CBD.
The massive protests, organized under the banner of the “March and March” movement, saw participants embark on an arduous 30 to 40-kilometer round trip. The route began at Bezuidenhout Square, pushed through the heart of Hillbrow, and concluded near the historic Mai Mai market in the Johannesburg CBD. While the primary march was largely peaceful, the sheer volume of foot traffic and isolated flashpoints necessitated a heavy law enforcement presence, including the South African Police Service (SAPS), Metro Police, and private security firms.
Despite the overall peaceful nature of the trek, severe incidents of criminality emerged, prompting the military intervention. In Hillbrow, a vehicle was set alight, and a shooting incident left two protesters injured. Eyewitnesses reported that a resident, fearing for his safety amidst the approaching crowds, opened fire on the marchers. Additionally, authorities noted a tragic shooting involving a three-year-old in the Hillbrow-Yoville area. Attempted looting was also swiftly contained by a massive police contingent in Jeppestown and along Jules Street in Malvern, protecting local businesses from the violence that has plagued similar demonstrations in the past.
Addressing the unfolding events from the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) headquarters in Pretoria, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration declared the day a major operational success. Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, and Committee Chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi led the briefing. They emphasized that meticulous planning over the preceding 48 hours successfully prevented a recurrence of the July 2021 riots, which previously saw devastating unrest across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga following the arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.
A primary concern for the security cluster was the infiltration of a “third force” aiming to hijack the legitimate right to protest. Minister Cachalia addressed the movement’s vow to march every Thursday until all undocumented foreign nationals are deported. He warned that the continuous demonstrations carry a distinct political agenda designed to influence the upcoming local government elections. The Police Minister cautioned against external actors exploiting ethnic divisions to incite African-on-African violence, stressing that the R600 million recently allocated for migration management is being actively deployed to safeguard economic prosperity and protect foreign direct investment.
To neutralize high-risk situations, the SANDF was specifically roped in to provide specialized support to public order policing. Military armored vehicles were prominently stationed near the iconic Ponte building in Hillbrow to ensure community safety as night fell. Meanwhile, the government took the opportunity to firmly refute allegations regarding the mistreatment of undocumented migrants. Officials dismissed claims of poor conditions, specifically addressing reports about a lack of ablution facilities at the repatriation centers in Beit Bridge and Musina, where individuals are being processed for return to countries such as Malawi.
As evening approached, the situation in the Johannesburg CBD stabilized. The SANDF and police continued their patrols, ensuring that the legitimate grievances of the marchers regarding border security and immigration enforcement were heard without descending into the chaos that authorities had so carefully prepared to prevent.