WATCH | Protesters take to PMB streets as March and March gains momentum
The demonstrations form part of a series of protests taking place across the province, led by Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma and LACO.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Pietermaritzburg on Friday as part of the ongoing March and March protest, with the demonstration proceeding peacefully and in an orderly manner.
The march saw demonstrators move through various parts of the city, causing temporary traffic disruptions as the procession made its way through the central business district (CBD).
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The demonstration forms part of a series of protests taking place across the province, led by Jacintha Ngobese-Zuma and the Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO).
Delivery drivers on motorbikes led the procession.
Speaking to The Witness, Siyanda Gumede said they wanted to demonstrate that South Africans were equally capable of working in the delivery sector, which they claimed was largely occupied by foreign nationals.
“We are more than capable, and when they leave, more job opportunities will be opened for South Africans,” said Gumede.
Numerous businesses in the upper CBD, including those along Church Street and Chief Albert Luthuli Street, were affected by the march, while hundreds of residents watched the proceedings from sidewalks and apartment windows.
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Participants in the protest said they were frustrated by illegal immigration and alleged criminal activities involving some foreign nationals. Protesters claimed authorities had failed to adequately address their concerns.
One protester, who said she had been a victim of crime, expressed her support for the demonstration.
“Criminals steal our identities, traffic our children, and we don’t need illegal foreigners, and we are calling on them to return to their countries. We are tired,” she said.
Law enforcement officers monitored the march as it moved through the city.
Since the start of the protests, the South African government has intensified enforcement of immigration laws.