GEORGE NEWS - The national anti-migrant organisation March and March has vowed to continue its protest campaign until its demands are met. 

Members in Thembalethu said on Tuesday their campaign is far from over. 

Organiser Lwazi Nozuko Adams said they will continue marching until their voices are heard, adding that they are "tired of what is happening in South Africa" and will keep protesting until government responds.

"We will not stop marching until we get what we want," she said. "We want undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country and will continue demonstrating until government listens."

This follows nationwide tension as protests were organised by anti-migration vigilante groups, including March and March, who set an unofficial 30 June deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.

A Southern Cape police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, said police remain fully prepared to respond to any developments should tensions escalate.

Non-march 'not from fear'

In the meantime, another local anti-illegal immigration group, Thembalethu Qina-Mhlali, canned their planned Ma bahambe (They must go) on Tuesday morning.

In a statement, the organisation said the decision was taken "not from fear of the security cluster", but to protect Thembalethu and George while upholding the law.

"We stand against illegal immigration, employment of illegal immigrants, drug dealing and human trafficking. We stand for a lawful, safe George," the organisation said.

It added that it is calling for the strict enforcement of the Immigration Act, municipal by-laws, labour legislation and health regulations, saying it is not anti any nationality but pro compliance. 

The group also called on the Department of Home Affairs, the police and the Garden Route District Municipality to conduct joint compliance inspections at businesses.

A convoy of police, traffic officers, the Department of Home Affairs and other law enforcement agencies moved through the streets of Thembalethu on Tuesday and Wednesday. Photo: Kristy Kolberg

On the local scene

Although no large-scale violence or extensive looting was reported, tensions remained evident throughout the day.

At one stage, a group of about 30 people moved from spaza shop to spaza shop in Thembalethu, shouting "Vala!" (Close!) while banging on shop walls and shutters. Many young children also accompanied the groups and threw stones before police dispersed them.

Police also responded to reports of an attempted looting at a spaza shop in Reiger Park, Pacaltsdorp, while Public Order Police deployed stun grenades in New Dawn Park after a crowd allegedly pursued a man believed to be an undocumented foreign national.

Pojie confirmed that no arrests relating to looting or assaults on foreign nationals were made in George on Tuesday.

He said police remain fully prepared to respond to any developments should tensions escalate.

Police remain on high alert after Tuesday 30 July.The wider picture

George's experience mirrored that of several parts of the country, where many planned demonstrations remained peaceful but isolated incidents of intimidation, looting and clashes with police were reported. Thousands of officers were deployed nationwide ahead of the planned protests, warning that any acts of violence, vigilantism or intimidation would be dealt with decisively.

In some provinces, including KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, police dispersed crowds, made arrests after looting incidents and maintained a heavy presence in identified hotspots as government sought to prevent a repeat of previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence.

National protest organisers have also indicated that the campaign will continue beyond 30 June if Government does not address their demands regarding undocumented immigration, suggesting that Tuesday's demonstrations may have marked the beginning rather than the end of the movement.

By the time of going to print on Wednesday morning, George remained calm. However, with protest groups signalling further action and police maintaining heightened readiness, the situation is monitored closely.

Local members of March and March in Thembalethu on Wednesday morning, 1 July. The group said they will continue their campaign until government gives them what they want. Photo: Zama Gagu

By Wednesday morning, 1 July, some of the spaza shops in Thembalethu had begun to reopen. Photo: Zama Gagu‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’