Several anti-illegal immigration groups in South Africa have taken to the streets to protest against undocumented Black foreign nationals in the country. The protests came as the deadline given to all undocumented Black foreigners to vacate the country or face dire consequences elapsed on Tuesday (today).

In Durban, protesters gathered at King Dinuzulu Park before marching through the city’s streets to voice their frustrations over irregular migration.

Several people were also seen in Tembisa, Gqeberha, Mthatha, Komani, and several other cities in the country, holding placards bearing various inscriptions, including ‘It’s time to stand together’.

The protesters accused the South African government of protecting Black foreigners at the expense of its own citizens in the country.

One of the protesters said, “I am here to protest today to protect the future of South African people and their kids, because we have rights as South Africans. The government cannot take our rights away and give them to foreigners. It’s not going to work. Nobody knows what they want to say, our rights as written in the constitution must be protected.”

Meanwhile, the country’s minister of justice, Mmamoloko Kubayi, urged protesters to be peaceful and law-abiding, acknowledging the rights of all South Africans to protest and express their frustrations.

She, however, said the government is constitutionally mandated to maintain law and order in the country.

“We want to appreciate our matchers for communicating with the state in terms of their planned matches. We’re working with them to ensure that those matches are peaceful. We want to reiterate their right to protest, their right to express themselves when they are not happy with their own government.

“We are also appealing to those who will be joining to do this in a peaceful manner and not cause harm. We want to say the state today is not going out to threaten citizens, but we have obligations as government to ensure that there is law and order and to make sure that no one’s rights are infringed. That’s why we said today is a normal day,” the minister stated.