Anti-illegal immigration group March and March says it will go ahead with its planned national shutdown on June 30, despite the government calling for calm after urgent talks on rising protests over undocumented migration.

The group is calling on undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa. Its stance follows a meeting at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday between ministers in the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.

The talks focused on growing demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals across the country. Security cluster ministers and senior officials responsible for national security attended the meeting.

Ministers also met political parties, groups and associations involved in mass protests and community marches linked to immigration concerns.

Group rejects xenophobia claims

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, March and March member Sanele Dube said the group was concerned by Defence Minister Angie Motshekga’s remarks about the June 30 action.

Dube said the movement believed the government was treating the date as “just another shutdown”.

“For us, it seems the government does not take South Africans seriously,” he said.

He said South Africans had “had enough” of undocumented foreign nationals and wanted them removed from the country.

Dube rejected claims that the campaign was xenophobic or ethnically driven. He said the call was centred on national security and protecting South Africa and its citizens.

He added that the movement’s support had spread beyond KwaZulu-Natal, with activity in Cape Town, Rustenburg and planned action in Limpopo.

Motshekga urges peaceful protest

Motshekga said citizens had a constitutional right to protest and that there was “nothing to panic about” ahead of June 30.

But she warned that protests must remain lawful.

“We have seen incidents during some marches that cannot be overlooked,” she said.

She said Home Affairs continued to conduct inspections and operations aimed at addressing undocumented migration.

Motshekga also urged protesters to respect the dignity of others, saying she was disturbed after seeing a South African pepper-spray a foreign immigrant.

Kubayi says state is acting

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi rejected claims that the government had been passive on immigration.

“We have not been lukewarm,” she said.

Kubayi said joint operations were taking place weekly and urged protest organisers to notify authorities about march routes and crowd sizes so law enforcement could prepare.

The debate comes as anti-migrant sentiment gains political traction, with several groups backing calls for tougher immigration controls and stricter action against undocumented migration.