A prominent anti-illegal immigration activist has died after being shot outside his Ekurhuleni home, prompting the organisation he belonged to to vow that it will intensify protests across the country.
Andile Mvuyelwa Somgxada, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital on 9 July, after fighting for his life for five days.
According to reports, Somgxada was gunned down by attackers on Saturday, 4 July, as he was leaving his residence in Greenfields, Ekurhuleni.
The March and March Movement officially confirmed the tragic loss today, describing Somgxada as a “dedicated and peace loving patriotic South African” whose legacy “will never be allowed to go down in vain”.
Law enforcement authorities have been urgently called upon to investigate the assassination, with the organisation warning that the matter is bound to exert unnecessary tensions in various communities.
According to March and March spokesperson, Sandile Dube, the fatal shooting comes in the wake of various other leaders of the March and March Movement allegedly receiving either warnings or death threats.
“These threats are coming from those who benefit from extortion and the proceeds of demanding protection fees from illegal foreign nationals who are running illegal businesses,” he said.
Dube said the intimidation has reportedly expanded into multiple provinces, confirming that its regional leader for Tshwane received warning messages immediately following a march held in Mamelodi on 9 July.
“ Similar threats have also been tracked targeting coordinators in the Umlazi township in KwaZulu-Natal and across the Mpumalanga province,” he said.
Despite the deadly escalation, the organisation has strongly rejected any calls to back down.
“March and March Movement explicitly vows to intensify its Thursday marches throughout the country, and Gauteng Province in particular, where there is resistance and a bulk of illegal foreign nationals,” he said.
Dube further appealed to South Africans, saying, “Stand up in defense of our country against drug cartels, extortionists disguised as security companies, drug dealers, and human trafficking agents whose businesses are frustrated by these continuous marches.”
He said a formal regional memorial service honouring Somgxada is planned for this week within the Gauteng, and his funeral service will be held in the Eastern Cape, subject to further family advice.
