Hundreds protest against illegal immigration in Durban

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Durban on Wednesday to protest against illegal immigration, while the March and March movement organised demonstrations in several South African provinces.

The movement had designated September 30 as an unofficial deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave South Africa. The protests proceeded as that date arrived, although the supplied information does not specify the year of the demonstrations.

Protests across several provinces

March and March said its activities extended beyond Durban, with demonstrations staged in multiple provinces. Organisers also said the marches were intended to denounce gender-based violence.

The protests took place amid an intense anti-immigration campaign that has continued in South Africa for several months. The campaign has been accompanied by episodes of violence targeting foreign citizens.

Disputed toll and departures

Several immigrants have been killed in the violence, according to the source report. However, the official death toll remains disputed between South African authorities and foreign authorities, and no exact figure for those killed was provided.

An AFP tally, based on figures released by African governments that repatriated their nationals, indicates that more than 200,000 people have fled South Africa.

The demonstrations also followed a series of femicides that had shocked the country, according to the background information supplied for the report. Organisers’ references to gender-based violence placed that issue alongside their opposition to undocumented immigration during the marches.