Political parties in SA reject 30 June shutdown over safety concerns

Many of South Africa’s political parties have rejected the planned 30 June shutdown called by anti-illegal immigration groups, warning that it could fuel violence and undermine the rule of law. The debate has intensified as the country enters a tense period ahead of Tuesday’s deadline set by groups such as March and March and Operation Dudula for undocumented immigrants to leave the country.

The African National Congress (ANC) has urged South Africans to use democratic processes to address their grievances. Speaking on behalf of the party’s first deputy secretary, Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC NEC member Supra Mahumapelo said the constitution provides lawful ways for citizens to raise concerns and seek solutions. He said the party does not support threats to break the law and expressed hope that law enforcement agencies are prepared to respond to anyone who tries to exploit the situation.

Mahumapelo also said the broader challenges facing South Africa and the continent, including poverty, unemployment and inequality, require urgent economic intervention. He argued that the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area should be accelerated as part of the long-term answer to these pressures.

The Democratic Alliance, the ANC’s largest partner in the Government of National Unity, has voiced similar concerns. Party deputy federal chairperson Solly Malatsi said South Africans must stand together against forces that seek to divide communities. He described the shutdown calls as dangerous and warned that people who oppose stability, peace and democracy are becoming more visible. Malatsi said those who believe in democracy must unite to resist attempts to normalize criminality under the banner of protest.

The Economic Freedom Fighters have adopted a harder line, calling for the arrest of leaders of the anti-immigration groups. The party says their conduct has damaged South Africa’s reputation as a defender of human rights. Nqobile Mhlongo, the EFF’s head of international relations and a member of parliament, accused the groups of repeatedly attacking Africans, including some who have valid documents. He said law enforcement should act immediately because the groups have openly threatened violence and, in the EFF’s view, have effectively declared a crime before carrying it out.

Not all political parties oppose the anti-immigration campaign. ActionSA has expressed support for the groups and their protest action. The party’s leader, Herman Mashaba, publicly praised March and March during a protest in Johannesburg two months ago, saying the movement was acting in the interests of future generations. His remarks placed ActionSA among the few parties that have taken a sympathetic stance toward the anti-migrant campaign.

The uMkhonto we Sizwe Party, meanwhile, has moved to distance itself from suggestions that it is linked to March and March. In a statement responding to a media report, the party rejected any association between the grouping and the alleged 21 July unrest. It said party founder and former president Jacob Zuma has repeatedly called for peace, discipline and political activism, and accused the report of trying to tarnish his name.

As the 30 June deadline approaches, South Africa remains on high alert. Political leaders across the spectrum are now being forced to balance public anger over illegal immigration with concerns about safety, social cohesion and the risk of unrest.