By Charmaine Ndlela and Johnathan Paoli
Controversial former Ukhozi FM presenter and maskandi DJ Ngizwe Mchunu has again warned that illegal immigrants must leave South Africa by 30 June, saying the planned national shutdown will go ahead on that date, complete with ‘checking’ of the documentation of foreigners.
Speaking to Inside Politics, Mchunu said communities had reached “breaking point” over illegal immigration. He accused the government of failing to enforce immigration laws.
“30 June is the last day for all immigrants to ask their countries to assist them to go back home. They must go. We have done an excellent job, and the results are showing by looking at how Ghana is assisting their people to go back home,” he said.
Almost 300 Ghanaian nationals left South Africa this week under a voluntary repatriation process — the result of increased tensions that African countries fear could morph into xenophobic violence — arranged by the Ghanaian government.
Ghana at first called the repatriation an “evacuation” aimed at protecting its citizens in South Africa.
Mchunu said the shutdown would involve “coordinated action” across all provinces.
“Nothing will be moving [on that day] except people that will be checking documents of illegal immigrants,” he said.
South African courts have previously held that private citizens may not demand identity documents or proof of nationality from others, a power reserved for immigration officials and police.
Mchunu said the anti-illegal immigrant movement had expanded rapidly despite operating “without financial backing”.
He rejected accusations that the ongoing protests to call for the expulsion of illegal foreigners were violent or unlawful, blaming tensions on “government interference”.
“They (government) must do their job and not try to control us. There is nothing wrong we have done. We go to each and every province to make sure we conduct peace talks regarding the shutdown on the 30th. We are clear about this and the results are showing,” Mchunu said.
March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has also defended the campaign, accusing government of inflaming tensions instead of responding to community needs.
She alleged authorities were using the protests “to test their power” rather than listening to communities frustrated by unemployment, crime and the alleged pressure on public services as a result of illegal foreigners in the country.
She said the campaign to rid the country of illegal foreigners would remain “community-driven” and not politically aligned.
This week, in a joint statement, Lawyers for Human Rights, Amnesty International South Africa, SECTION27, Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia, and other civil society organisations condemned the “weaponisation of xenophobia”.
They accused political leaders of exploiting anti-migrant sentiment ahead of the 4 November local government elections, and slammed “the growing normalisation of xenophobia, scapegoating, and mob rule in our society”.
They called for immediate action against “vigilante groups” engaged in unlawful evictions, intimidation and xenophobic violence.
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) also condemned the violence linked to protests in Durban and warned against “collective punishment”.
“The South African working class must reject xenophobia, collective punishment and vigilantism. Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees are not responsible for the catastrophic unemployment, poverty, inequality, collapsing public services and corruption confronting the majority of our people,” SAFTU leader Zwelinzima Vavi said.
He said that once society normalises vigilantism against one vulnerable group, “no section” of the working class will remain safe.
Government ministers have defended the state’s handling of immigration enforcement while warning against unlawful conduct during demonstrations.
Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said refugee processing centres would be moved closer to border posts to improve immigration management.
“We have not been lukewarm. Joint operations have been taking place week in and week out, and we have statistics to show for it,” Kubayi said.
Replying to a question in the National Assembly, Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald said government was working on agreements to deport foreign nationals serving prison sentences. But he added that current legislation prevented effective interstate prisoner transfers.
The anti-illegal immigration protests intensified across several provinces this week, with some demonstrations remaining peaceful while others descended into clashes with police and increased tensions between residents and foreign nationals.
In Krugersdorp, Gauteng, hundreds of residents marched from Coronation Park through the CBD towards the town hall, demanding tougher action against illegal immigration, crime, drug trafficking, illegal mining and hijacked buildings.
Tensions escalated when police fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds after protesters became disruptive. Reports indicated that six people were injured.
Similar demonstrations unfolded in the Jeffreys Bay CBD in the Eastern Cape, where residents from Ocean View and Pellsrus marched to the local police station under the “Abahambe” banner, a phrase meaning “they must go” that has become associated with the anti-illegal-immigration protests.
Protesters said they were also marching because of unemployment, crime and because local jobs were increasingly being “given” to foreign nationals.
In Addo, protesting residents accused farmers of employing foreign nationals at lower wages while local workers remained unemployed.
In Emaxesibeni, formerly Mount Ayliff, close to the border with KwaZulu-Natal, supporters of March and March also protested.
Tensions also flared near Cape Town after demonstrations involving learners from Masibambane and Hector Peterson high schools in Kraaifontein reportedly turned violent.
Videos circulating online appeared to show learners throwing stones, attempting to force open vehicles and confronting foreign nationals, while police deployed heavily around schools and nearby roads.
The Western Cape Education Department said that disruptions began at Masibambane Secondary School before spreading to neighbouring schools, although classes continued despite some learners leaving school grounds.
Further demonstrations and shutdowns are planned across multiple provinces in the lead up to the 30 June shutdown.
March and March organisers in Cape Town have announced another anti-illegal immigration march scheduled for Saturday at Goodwood Town Hall along Voortrekker Road, while truck drivers aligned to the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa are planning a KZN shutdown targeting major transport routes, including along the N3 and N2.
In Polokwane, Limpopo, organisers have announced the e-Chaile, or “Time Is Up”, march for 8 June.
On Thursday, the South African Police Service said in a statement that police “continue[d] to intensify nationwide crime prevention and law enforcement operations aimed at addressing illegal immigration and related criminality through Operation Shanela”.
“As part of ongoing high-density operations conducted across all provinces, a total of 1891 illegal foreigners were arrested during the past week alone for contravention of the Immigration Act.
“Since 01 January 2026 until 17 May 2026, SAPS has arrested a total of 29 371 illegal foreigners during various intelligence-driven operations, tracing operations, roadblocks, stop-and-search operations and multi-disciplinary law enforcement initiatives.
“Furthermore, between 01 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, more than 76 588 illegal foreigners were arrested countrywide.”
INSIDE POLITICS
