March and March movement leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, and her collaborators, Ngizwe Mchunu, and Phakelaumthakathi prevailed over scores of protesters gathered outside the Johannesburg Library Gardens on Wednesday as they jeered Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi.
This comes as more than 500 marchers led by March and March, ActionSA, Operation Dudula, and other community and political parties led yet another protest action, calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
At the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the protesters had jeered and booed, refusing to be addressed by Lesufi.
Mchunu stated: “We must allow for the premier of Gauteng, who is one of the leaders of this province, to address us and receive this memorandum.”
However, some in the crowd shouted: “We do not want to be addressed by thieves and sellouts.”Â
Eventually, Lesufi, who had come to receive the memorandum over the illegal immigration challenges that have spread across major cities, including Tshwane on Tuesday, and recently Durban and the Eastern Cape, was allowed to speak.
“We have come to receive this memorandum on behalf of the provincial government following a peaceful procession here in Johannesburg,” he said.
Lesufi, who was given seven days to respond to the demands, promised to respond within the specified timeframe.
The protests, held under the banner “Abahambe”, have continued to call for urgent government intervention to address a series of escalating issues, chief among them crime and inadequate public services.
Following the day-long march across parts of the city centre, including Braamfontein, Ngobese-Zuma articulated the sentiments of those present, stating: “It can’t be that our police fail to protect us while acting in cahoots with illegal foreigners in our own country. We are calling for the premier and the entire government to prioritise us.” Â
Central to the concerns raised in the memorandum is the demand for a government commitment to prioritising South African citizens in areas such as health, employment, and business opportunities. Activists are also calling for a thorough audit of the various visas, including study permits, issued to non-South Africans residing in South Africa.
The document with the list of grievances also urges substantial enhancements to the nation’s state security measures, a thorough review of immigration laws, and a battle against corruption that has seeped into government practices.
According to members of these civic-led protests, some of the challenges in public schools and hospitals are a direct result of poor immigration policies.
“The government must review all the study visas and permits. There are so many South African teachers and doctors who are unemployed. Foreigners who came to study under these special permits have jobs, and some of them take the government to court over the lack of jobs,” reads part of the grievances.
Following Lesufi’s brief address, ActionSA party leader Herman Mashaba commended all the parties for fighting the immigration challenges.
He said: “As a country, we have reached the stage where foreigners have shown total disrespect for our laws. The only way we can save this country is through actions such as these. We also thank all the political parties present here.”
Earlier, Joburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson, Xolani Fihla, had indicated that deployed law enforcement agencies stood ready as the more than 500 marchers took to the streets, moving from Newtown all the way to Braamfontein and back to the city centre for the delivery of their grievances.
Some shop owners hurried to temporarily shut down their stores as protesters moved from Newtown to Braamfontein, amid fears of possible attacks on daily operations.
Siyabonga Sithole
iol.co.za
