By Julia Moyo. Picture supplied
Hundreds of residents from Thokoza and surrounding communities took to the streets on Thursday, marching through Ekurhuleni to demand that local companies prioritise South Africans for employment opportunities over undocumented foreign nationals.
The protest, organised by the Thokoza Abahambe Residents movement, began at Sam Ntuli Stadium before demonstrators moved towards factories in the Alrode industrial area, where memorandums of demands were handed to businesses. The march, which was monitored by the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) and SAPS, remained peaceful despite major traffic disruptions in parts of the area. Authorities confirmed that the demonstration had been officially approved.
EMPD media liaison officer Sisanda Manitshana said law enforcement officials were deployed to ensure order during the protest. “The march is official. They applied for it, and it was approved. They will be escorted,” said Manitshana. Protesters said rising unemployment and the alleged hiring of undocumented foreign nationals by some factories in Alrode had left many local residents frustrated and without opportunities.
One of the organisers, Mzomuhle Mazibuko, said communities felt ignored despite repeated attempts to engage companies operating in the area. “As you can see, everyone is out in numbers today. Everyone is coming out in support of the march,” Mazibuko said during the demonstration.
Picture supplied
According to the memorandum handed to businesses, the movement is calling for companies to stop employing undocumented immigrants, prioritise South African citizens for jobs, and establish an Alrode stakeholders committee involving both businesses and community representatives. Organisers also referenced sections of the Immigration Act relating to the employment of undocumented foreign nationals, giving companies seven days to respond to their demands.
Videos and images shared widely on social media showed large crowds of protesters carrying placards and marching through the industrial area while chanting against illegal immigration and unemployment. The demonstration comes amid growing tensions in several parts of South Africa over unemployment, service delivery and immigration concerns, with similar marches having taken place in other provinces in recent months.
According to Statistics South Africa’s latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, the country’s unemployment rate currently stands above 32%, with young people among the hardest hit. Deputy President Paul Mashatile recently called for immigration-related concerns to be addressed through lawful processes and law enforcement, while condemning vigilante action against foreign nationals.
