Daveyton streets erupt in anti-immigration protest march

File picture: Anti-immigrant protests have flared up in South Africa in recent months. Residents in Daveyton, in Ekurhuleni, took to the streets on Saturday as part of a protest driven by growing frustration over undocumented immigration, with demonstrators calling for stricter border enforcement and tougher government action. The march, linked to the broader “Mabahambe” movement – loosely translated as “they must go” – drew residents who voiced concerns about unemployment, crime and pressure on already strained public services.

Protesters said the situation in their communities had become increasingly difficult, arguing that limited jobs and resources were being further stretched. Marchers gathered in organised groups before moving through parts of the township, with some carrying placards and chanting slogans calling for authorities to prioritise South Africans in job allocation and improve immigration control Organisers said the demonstration was intended to highlight what they described as “daily lived realities” in the area and to deliver a formal memorandum of grievances to local authorities. Law enforcement agencies monitored the situation closely, with police deployed in and around Daveyton and nearby Benoni to maintain order and ensure the protest remained peaceful.

Authorities have previously cautioned against unlawful conduct during public demonstrations and stressed that grievances must be expressed within the bounds of the law. While the protest reflected strong sentiment among participants, officials have consistently pointed to the complexity of migration management, which involves border security, documentation processes and regional movement across Southern Africa. The Daveyton demonstration forms part of a wider pattern of similar protests reported in parts of Gauteng in recent weeks, underscoring rising public debate over immigration policy and socio-economic pressures in local communities. At the time of publication, authorities had not confirmed any major incidents or arrests linked to Saturday’s march, and it was expected that the memorandum would be formally submitted to relevant municipal structures for review and response.