Police were forced to intervene on Friday when members of the March and March movement and its allies attempted to force entry into a building on Point Road in Durban. The confrontation began after a resident, believed to be a foreign national residing on the third floor, threw what appeared to be black paint on to protestors marching below her window.
The protest, heavily monitored by police, took place amid heightened tensions in the Point precinct, which has long struggled with high levels of crime, drug activity, and unregulated businesses. The area has also become the focal point of community frustration over undocumented immigration and law enforcement failures.
Local residents who joined the march voiced concerns about safety and the growing sense of lawlessness in the area.
“We are even scared to be outside at night because it’s not safe. We’ve seen police collecting bribes from various shops owned by foreign nationals. This must come to an end,” said a student who asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons.
March and March founder and leader Jacinta Ngobese said Point Road reflects the broader consequences of poor immigration management and the lack of proper documentation of foreign nationals.
“There’s no country in the world that allows an unchecked influx of foreigners to the point where citizens feel displaced. These areas have become synonymous with criminal activity, and our government has allowed it to continue as if it’s normal,” Ngobese said.
“Today, we are reminding the government that South Africa belongs to South Africans and that we cannot continue living in fear within our own communities.”
ActionSA’s KwaZulu-Natal leader Zwakele Mncwango echoed similar frustrations, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to corruption within law enforcement and immigration systems.
“If those in power do not act, residents will be forced to take matters into their own hands. Our leaders have failed us. You can see the rot within the South African Police Services (SAPS), so who are we supposed to trust? Citizens have to take it upon themselves to fight this scourge,” Mncwango said.
A Durban resident affiliated with the Patriotic Alliance, who requested anonymity, urged unity across racial and political lines to address the issue.
“Our children are dying. Drugs and rotten food are being sold in our communities, allegedly by undocumented foreigners. We are here to say no more, we’re tired and we’re going to keep marching until there is change,” she said.
The march began outside the Durban City Hall and proceeded toward Point Road, where several confrontations broke out between protesters and groups believed to include foreign nationals. Police intervened multiple times to restore order and prevent violence.
