The civic organisation March and March has renewed its call for government to declare a state of emergency in response to what it describes as growing challenges linked to illegal immigration and unlawful mining activities in several communities.
The movement says it is particularly concerned about the presence of illegal miners, commonly referred to as zama zamas, whom it accuses of infiltrating neighbourhoods and threatening the safety of residents.
The call follows incidents last month in the Sporong informal settlement in Kagiso, west of Johannesburg, where approximately 500 residents reportedly fled their homes after alleged intimidation by illegal miners operating in the area.
March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the group wants President Cyril Ramaphosa to consider deploying the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to support police in removing undocumented foreign nationals and addressing illegal mining operations.
“A state of emergency can be declared if a country is being invaded, and we believe the current influx of illegal immigrants can be described in those terms,” Ngobese-Zuma said. “The law allows the president to deploy the SANDF, and we believe this would be important in areas that have been taken over by zama zamas and in towns where police are clearly struggling to manage the situation.”
She argued that additional security resources are needed in communities where criminal activity linked to illegal mining has disrupted daily life.
While the group maintains that stronger intervention is necessary, authorities have yet to indicate whether such measures are being considered. Police and government departments have previously stated that law enforcement operations are ongoing to address illegal mining and undocumented migration through existing legal frameworks.
The debate around how best to tackle the issue continues, as affected communities call for improved safety while officials balance enforcement with constitutional and human rights considerations.