Community leaders say immigration laws should be enforced by the state, not vigilantes
By Peter Luhanga
Community leaders in Dunoon have moved to shut down plans by anti-immigrant groups to march through the township, warning that the campaign against foreign nationals risks inflaming tensions and destabilising a fragile local economy.
The intervention by local leaders follows the social media announcements promoting a “Dunoon Community Peaceful March” on 13 June. The poster, bearing the logos of anti-immigrant groups Operation Dudula, March and March, For The People, and the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO), calls on residents to gather at Dunoon taxi rank and march to the local council offices under the slogans “One Nation. One Voice. One Future” and “Together We Can”.
Organisers describe the event as a peaceful community action and state that no weapons or illegal substances will be permitted during the march.
But South African National Civic Organisation Oliver Tambo branch chairperson Sinethemba Matomela said community leaders had resolved not to support the planned march following a series of meetings involving civic organisations, foreign national representatives, faith leaders, neighbourhood structures, and police.
“We are against March and March coming to Dunoon,” said Matomela.
He said three meetings had been held since late May. While some of the concerns being raised by supporters of March and March existed, immigration enforcement and the documentation of asylum seekers remained the responsibility of the state.
“We agree that laws must be enforced, but only law enforcement agencies are trained and authorised to determine whether a person is legally in the country or not,” he said.
“Residents are not immigration officials. They cannot distinguish between an asylum seeker, a refugee, a documented migrant or an undocumented person. That responsibility belongs to law enforcement.”
He said community leaders had already circulated voice notes through leadership WhatsApp groups informing residents that SANCO did not support the planned march.
Wave of violence
The planned march comes amid growing xenophobic demonstrations in South Africa organised by Operation Dudula and March and March, which have often become violent.
March and March and Operation Dudula have been calling for stronger action against undocumented migrants.
Last month, nearly 300 Ghanaian nationals were flown home through a voluntary repatriation programme following fears arising from anti-immigrant protests and growing uncertainty among foreign nationals living in South Africa.
Over the weekend, Malawi began assisting citizens wishing to return home, with two buses carrying about 150 Malawian nationals departing from the Western Cape following violence and displacement linked to anti-immigrant unrest.
Earlier this month in Kleinmond in the Western Cape, people from Malawi and Mozambique fled into nearby mountains and coastal dunes after being threatened by anti-immigrant groups. Many later sought refuge in the Kleinmond Town Hall while awaiting assistance from their governments.
The incidents followed unrest in Mossel Bay in late May and early June, where several people were killed and homes were destroyed during xenophobic violence that drew national and international attention.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns around illegal immigration but warned against vigilantism and attempts by private groups to enforce immigration laws.
“We must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence,” said Ramaphosa.
He cautioned against citizens stopping people in the street to demand identity documents, saying immigration enforcement remained the responsibility of the state.
Economic reality
For leaders in Dunoon, the issue extends beyond immigration and into the township’s economic reality.
Matomela said a significant share of household income in Dunoon was derived from foreign nationals renting accommodation from local residents, including rooms in extended RDP houses, backyard shacks, shacks in informal settlements, and double-storey shacks.
He said many families depended on that rental income to put food on the table amid high unemployment.
“If those tenants disappear, many families will lose the only income coming into their homes. We cannot run away from the fact that unemployment is high in Dunoon … If foreigners leave, many South Africans will go to bed with empty stomachs.”
He said said many foreign-owned businesses operated from premises rented from South African landlords and a significant portion of the township’s informal economy was linked to immigration.
Treasurer of the Dunoon Neighbourhood Watch and secretary of the faith-based organisational umbrella body Dunoon Pastors Fraternal, Bonginkosi Luthuli, said community leaders feared the planned march could be exploited by criminals and destabilise the community.
“If such a march takes place in Dunoon, it will be chaos,” said Luthuli.
“Criminals will take advantage of the situation. Businesses could be targeted and innocent people will suffer.”
He said foreign nationals who attended stakeholder engagements had told community leaders that many immigrants had been living in South Africa for more than 20 years and had established families, businesses, and livelihoods in the community.
“People cannot simply pack up and leave overnight. Many have built their lives here.”
Luthuli said some of the complaints raised by supporters of March and March were that foreign nationals were responsible for drug trafficking in townships.
However, he disputed those claims, saying criminal activity should be addressed through law enforcement rather than by targeting entire communities.
“The people selling drugs are not only foreigners,” said Luthuli.
He said leaders remained concerned that demonstrations directed at foreign nationals could quickly spiral beyond the control of organisers.
“Our position is clear. We are against March and March coming to Dunoon because the consequences for the community could be severe,” he said.
No engagement
Matomela said Dunoon’s leadership structures, which include 52 area committees, had long relied on consultation and collective decision-making during periods of crisis. He said they were aware of growing frustration among many South Africans. “We know our economy is struggling and unemployment is high. But we do not solve those problems by turning neighbours against one another.”
He said organisers linked to March and March and Operation Dudula had not engaged local leadership structures before promoting the planned march. “They must know that there are leaders in Dunoon. You can’t just go and do as you please. For example you can’t just go to Khayelitsha and do as you please. The first contact is leaders.”
A foreign national community leader who attended the meetings with Dunoon stakeholders and asked not to be named as he fears for his safety, confirmed discussions had taken place between immigrant representatives and local leaders, but declined to say whether foreign nationals felt safe.
“We need to build relationships. We are all Africans. We are all human beings and we’ve got families,” he said.