DURBAN, KwaZulu-Natal — The South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) has strongly condemned the reported R600 million allocation designated for managing anti-immigration marches, arguing that the funds should be redirected toward border security and strict immigration enforcement.
Sizwe Cele, the KwaZulu-Natal Secretary of SANCO, stated that the government’s failure to act on previous warnings has allowed public frustration over undocumented migration to spiral out of control. Cele described the R600 million expenditure as an unethical use of taxpayer money, emphasizing that the financial resources would be better utilized to secure the country’s borders and enforce immigration laws.
According to Cele, the current crisis was entirely preventable. He noted that on December 12, 2024, SANCO organized a massive march to the Union Buildings, where they submitted a memorandum of complaints directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa. The memorandum highlighted critical issues, including porous borders and criminal activities allegedly perpetrated by undocumented immigrants roaming the country without proper documentation.
“We warned that this situation was a ticking time bomb,” Cele explained. “If the government had taken our complaints seriously at that time and responded effectively, we would not be finding ourselves in the situation where we are now.”
The civic organization has been highly critical of the state’s handling of the recent June 30 anti-immigration demonstrations. Cele drew parallels to the devastating unrest of July 2021, arguing that the government had ample time—months before the June 30 dates were announced—to address the root causes of the public anger. Instead of “street talking,” Cele asserted that the government should have initiated deportations, shut down illegal establishments, and arrested individuals producing counterfeit goods or selling expired products.
Furthermore, SANCO accused the government of failing to hold corrupt officials accountable within the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Trade and Industry. Cele argued that this inaction has created a vacuum, leaving citizens to feel that millions of undocumented individuals are operating freely in townships and cities without facing the rule of law.
The political discourse surrounding the marches has been contentious. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, alongside labor federation Cosatu, has suggested that the June 30 activities are being mobilized by external forces to divide the working class and redirect anger away from the government’s actual failures.
However, Cele dismissed these claims, arguing that politicians are disconnected from the daily struggles of the masses. “They live in beautiful houses with high-rise fences and have bodyguards. They are not affected by what the people on the ground are experiencing,” he said, adding that leaders must remember they govern at the behest of the citizens and need to listen to their grievances rather than dictating to them. He even revealed that SANCO had considered pushing for a referendum to force the government to acknowledge the will of the people.
Addressing concerns that criticism of illegal migration often fuels xenophobia, Cele firmly rejected the label. He clarified that South Africans do not hate fellow Africans from neighboring countries, but rather detest the criminal deeds that impact their communities.
“This is not about xenophobia; this is about the livelihood of the people of South Africa, the safety of our children, and our economy,” Cele stated. He cited specific grievances, including the alleged introduction of drugs into schools, the sale of expired goods, and the flooding of markets with counterfeit products that outcompete local businesses.
Cele framed the issue as an economic struggle rather than racial or national hostility. He described South Africa as being in the “second transition of the struggle,” which is focused on achieving economic freedom. He argued that undocumented immigrants are hijacking this struggle and depriving South African citizens of vital economic opportunities.
Despite the tensions, Cele maintained that the core issue remains the government’s responsibility to enforce the law, protect local livelihoods, and ensure the safety of all residents by properly managing the country’s immigration system.