The African National Congress in eThekwini says residents raising concerns over illegal immigration have legitimate grievances and has called for the arrest and deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
The comments follow a protest in the Durban CBD on Wednesday, led by the group March and March. Demonstrators gathered outside a building on Mahatma Gandhi Road, alleging that it was being used for drug-related activities.
The ANC said its Regional Task Team recently held its first meeting, during which concerns around undocumented migrants operating spaza shops and other informal businesses were discussed.
According to the party, South Africa’s progressive policies have made the country an attractive destination for people seeking work and business opportunities, contributing to tensions between local residents and foreign nationals.
The ANC has called on the eThekwini Municipality to intensify enforcement measures, including conducting daily raids and shutting down illegally operated tuck shops.
The party is also proposing the establishment of a Spaza Shop Fund aimed at supporting locally owned small businesses.
Meanwhile, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya cautioned against describing the anti-illegal immigration protests as proof that South Africans are xenophobic.
Responding to questions about demonstrations taking place in different parts of the country, Magwenya said such characterisations overlook the broader social and economic frustrations driving the protests.
In addition to the Durban march, similar demonstrations have recently taken place in Tembisa on Gauteng’s East Rand.
Magwenya maintained that South Africa remains a welcoming country, describing its citizens as warm and hospitable despite growing tensions around immigration and economic pressures.