Traditional leaders of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) join members of March and March Movement as they chant songs during a national campaign protest in Durban on March 25, 2026. The group calls for stronger action against illegal immigration and the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals. The protest takes place amid rising public concern over border control, law enforcement, and the governments national policy. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)
South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas on Wednesday to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding tougher action against foreigners in the coastal city of Durban.
The protesters, including members of political parties and the xenophobic vigilante group Operation Dudula, marched through streets waving placards and chanting against undocumented immigrants.
The leader of the ActionSA party, Herman Mashaba, said at the protest, “People can call us names but we cannot allow a situation where our country is being destroyed before our very own eyes.
“We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world as far as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mexico, all over the world. So we are saying to our government this is unacceptable.”
