Protesters in South Africa have set September 30 as a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, warning that larger demonstrations could follow if their demands are not addressed.
Weekly protests have continued in Durban, where the movement has gained momentum in recent months.
March and March leader Sphelele Shinga said activists were expecting as many as 1.5 million people to take part in the next major demonstration.
“You should know that all the communities are gathering up again,” Shinga said. “They are waking up, they’re standing up for their home, standing up for their country.”
Shinga said protesters planned to “write another history” on September 30 by calling for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.
The decision came amid growing safety concerns following months of street protests.
Princess Adjei, a Ghanaian refugee, said: “We can’t keep sleeping on the streets forever as well. People have died because of sleeping on the street.”
Adjei said the group was waiting for buses while authorities continued the process of verifying their documentation.
Peace activists, including Ela Gandhi, joined the demonstration in support of the refugees.
Gandhi, a former member of Parliament and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, criticised the rhetoric used by the protesters and rejected claims that migrants were responsible for the country’s problems.
“The rhetoric that these people are using is completely untrue,” Gandhi said. “It’s not the migrants that are causing the problems that they talk about.”
The September 30 deadline has heightened concerns over the possibility of renewed large-scale demonstrations in Durban as activists prepare for their next major mobilisation.
