How South Africa’s 30 June unfolded:
Brandon Nel, Yasmine Jacobs, Wendy Dondolo, Simon Majadibodu, Kamogelo Moichela, Karabo Ngoepe, Robin-Lee Francke and Xolile Mtembu South Africa’s (SA’s) highly anticipated 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests passed largely without the widespread violence many had feared, as thousands marched in cities across the country under a heavy security presence. While the day remained mostly peaceful, […] The post How South Africa’s 30 June unfolded: appeared first on The Namibian .
Brandon Nel, Yasmine Jacobs, Wendy Dondolo, Simon Majadibodu, Kamogelo Moichela, Karabo Ngoepe, Robin-Lee Francke and Xolile Mtembu
South Africa’s (SA’s) highly anticipated 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests passed largely without the widespread violence many had feared, as thousands marched in cities across the country under a heavy security presence.
While the day remained mostly peaceful, there were isolated incidents of unrest.
Two people were wounded in a shooting in Hillbrow, the South African National Defence Force was deployed to parts of Johannesburg, and police made several arrests linked to looting in Cape Town, Durban and elsewhere.
The demonstrations were sparked by a 30 June deadline set by anti-illegal immigration groups, which had demanded that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country. The call drew large crowds to the streets of Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, with smaller marches taking place in several other towns.
Smaller marches also took place in towns including Hermanus, Gqeberha, Kroonstad, Tzaneen, Thohoyandou and Kimberley.
The deadline had been set by anti-immigration citizen groups, chief among them the March and March movement, led by former broadcaster Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, alongside movements such as Operation Dudula and the Amabutho.
