WATCH | KwaMpumuza joins drive to remove undocumented traders

The campaign to remove undocumented foreign nationals from township businesses is gathering momentum in KwaZulu-Natal, with KwaMpumuza Ward 1 councillor Khulekani Msomi saying local leaders are working with the KwaMpumuza Traditional Authority to ensure that businesses operating illegally are closed before tensions boil over into violence.

The move comes as anti-illegal immigration campaigns continue to spread across the province following nationwide marches led by the March and March movement, which has vowed to continue demonstrating every Thursday until government acts on its demands for stricter immigration enforcement.

The protests, which have drawn thousands across South Africa in recent weeks, prompted a massive security deployment by government amid fears of unrest, while police arrested more than 900 people during operations linked to the marches.

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Speaking to The Witness, Msomi said community frustrations have been growing over what residents believe is the continued operation of businesses by undocumented foreign nationals.

“We are working together with the traditional authority to make sure that illegal foreigners operating local outlets are removed. Our objective is to revive the township economy and ensure opportunities are created for local entrepreneurs,” he said.

Msomi said councillors and community leaders had been conducting inspections of tuck shops and engaging directly with business operators believed to be in the country illegally.

“We have been going around making sure that illegal foreigners are removed from local tuck shops, aimed at reviving the local economy.”

He said community leaders were also engaging landlords who rent properties to undocumented foreign nationals.

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“We have spoken to landlords and urged them to refrain from accommodating illegal foreigners because this could trigger tensions within communities and eventually lead to violent protests. We want to prevent conflict before it starts.”

The developments mirror similar operations carried out in other parts of Pietermaritzburg.

Last week, The Witness reported on the Ashdown Business Forum’s campaign in which local business owners went from shop to shop calling for businesses allegedly operated by undocumented foreign nationals to close.

KwaMpumuza has now become the latest community to join the growing campaign.

Msomi insisted their approach was aimed at ensuring residents’ concerns were addressed while avoiding violence.

“We will ensure that the needs of our community are respected and that their voices are heard.”

The issue has gained national prominence following weeks of anti-illegal immigration protests across South Africa.

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March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma last week announced that the organisation would continue holding demonstrations every Thursday, saying the movement would maintain pressure on government until decisive action is taken against undocumented migrants.

The nationwide campaign culminated in large demonstrations in Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and other cities on 30 June, with thousands participating under heavy police and military security.

While many marches remained peaceful, authorities warned that criminality, intimidation and violence would not be tolerated, and hundreds of arrests were made for offences including immigration violations, looting and public violence.

The government has repeatedly urged communities not to take the law into their own hands, stressing that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, while also warning against xenophobic attacks and vigilantism.