More than 20 anti-migrant organisations and civil groups behind the planned June 30 protests have pledged that their upcoming action will be peaceful, insisting there will be no violence, looting or loss of life.
The groups are calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by Tuesday, as pressure builds ahead of the nationwide mobilisation linked to immigration concerns.
The announcement was made during a joint media briefing in Midrand, Johannesburg, where March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the movement had received broad support from South Africans across different sectors.
A total of 27 organisations are reportedly backing the initiative, including Operation Dudula, United South Africa and Progressive Forces of South Africa. The MK Party also attended the briefing and has previously expressed support for the position taken by March and March.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, United South Africa president Musa Hlongwa called for widespread public backing of the protest, appealing to a broad cross-section of society including business leaders, religious groups, traditional authorities, professionals and foreign nationals who are legally in the country.
The groups argue that their mobilisation is aimed at holding government accountable and addressing concerns around immigration enforcement, border management and public resources.
Hlongwa criticised government priorities, including a reported R600 million allocation for security operations linked to the planned protests. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia had previously confirmed that the funds, typically used for police stations and community policing, would be redirected to manage security around the demonstrations.
The coalition also took aim at the South African Human Rights Commission, accusing it of bias and poor handling of complaints raised by citizens. These claims were made in reference to recent engagements where immigration and human rights issues were discussed publicly.
Among the key demands raised by the groups are stricter border controls, increased funding for the Border Management Authority and the Department of Home Affairs, and reforms to immigration enforcement systems. They also called for a review of policies affecting undocumented foreign nationals and proposed tighter controls on employment and access to township-based economic activity.
Hlongwa said the groups were not calling for violence, but for strict enforcement of existing laws. He argued that government should prioritise South African citizens in economic opportunities and accelerate deportation processes for undocumented migrants over the next six months, including nationals from various countries cited by the movement.
He further criticised what he described as silence from political leaders, the Department of Home Affairs and sections of civil society, saying this reflects a lack of engagement with public concerns around immigration.
Despite the strong rhetoric, the coalition repeatedly stressed that the planned action would remain peaceful. Hlongwa said there would be no destruction of property, no looting and no attacks on individuals, framing the mobilisation as the beginning of a broader, ongoing campaign for policy change rather than a single-day event.
He added that participants would be encouraged to act within the law while maintaining pressure on government to respond to their demands.
The planned protests come amid heightened national debate over immigration policy, enforcement capacity and social tensions in various communities. Government has not yet formally responded in detail to the latest set of demands, but has previously reiterated that immigration enforcement remains a state responsibility carried out under the law.
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