Key Takeaways
- The March and March movement organized a protest in Johannesburg’s city centre demanding that foreigners leave South Africa, leading to the closure of many migrant traders’ stalls.
- Gloria Cossa, a Mozambican migrant who obtained South African citizenship after a ten‑year process, stresses her legal right to stay and worries about her children’s welfare if forced to return home.
- Many informal traders rely on foreign‑owned suppliers—particularly Somali wholesalers—for affordable goods and credit, arguing that expelling them would raise costs and harm local businesses.
- Participants express deep fear for their safety; children have been kept home from school, and protest chants even suggested providing “free transport” to send migrants away.
- Street vendors such as wig seller Anashe Tendai counter the claim that foreigners take jobs, noting that government‑opened borders allowed them to work in public spaces because locals often refuse to rent premises to them.
- A Nigerian cosmetics shop owner, who asked to remain anonymous, confirms he holds a valid passport and South African residency, insisting that the protest unfairly targets those who entered the country legally.
- Advocacy‑group leaders Ngizwe Mchunu and Phakela Umthakathi Ndaba‑Ndaba were prominent in the march, amplifying the message that foreigners are a threat to South African livelihoods.
- The unrest highlights broader tensions over immigration, economic competition, and xenophobic violence in urban South Africa, calling for dialogue and protection of legal migrants’ rights.
Background of the Protest
On Wednesday, April 29 2026, the March and March movement mobilized dozens of protesters onto the streets of Johannesburg’s central business district. Their chant demanded that foreigners—particularly those deemed “illegal”—leave the country. The demonstration forced numerous informal traders, many of whom are migrants from other African nations, to shut down their stalls. Photographs from the scene show protesters wielding sticks, a bakkie loaded with demonstrators, and crowds gathering outside the Gauteng legislature. The event was covered by local media, including TimesLIVE, which highlighted both the intensity of the march and the anxiety it sparked among migrant communities.
Gloria Cossa’s Personal Account
Gloria Cossa, who migrated from Mozambique to South Africa in 2001, described the arduous journey to acquire legal status. She recalled that her citizenship application took ten years to be approved, a period she characterized as “strenuous.” Because she now holds full legal rights, Cossa declared she would not voluntarily return to Mozambique, asking rhetorically what she and her children would eat if she were forced to go home. Her testimony underscores the deep personal stakes involved: legal residency is not merely a bureaucratic formality but a lifeline for her family’s survival.
Economic Dependence on Foreign Traders
Cossa also stressed the practical advantages that foreign traders bring to her own business. She argued that if Somali traders were expelled, the cost of stock would rise dramatically, as Somali wholesalers offer goods that are cheaper than those found at major retailers such as Shoprite, Checkers, or Boxer. Moreover, she noted the convenience of obtaining items on credit from these traders and paying later—a flexibility that many local suppliers do not provide. This interdependence illustrates how migrant entrepreneurs are embedded in the informal economy, providing both affordable products and vital financial flexibility to small‑scale vendors.
Fear and Impact on Families
The protest has generated a palpable climate of fear among migrant families. Cossa confessed that her children could not attend school that day because she feared they might be harmed by the demonstrators. Protesters’ chants even promised “free transport” to help migrants pack their bags and leave, a suggestion that intensified anxieties about possible forced removal or detention. Such threats disrupt daily life, impede education, and contribute to a sense of insecurity that extends beyond the immediate protest zone, affecting the broader migrant community’s willingness to engage openly in public life.
Misconceptions About Job Competition
Anashe Tendai, a sidewalk wig seller, challenged the protesters’ claim that foreigners are stealing South African jobs. Tendai pointed out that the government’s decision to open borders allowed migrants to enter legally, yet many locals are unwilling to rent commercial spaces to them. Consequently, migrants often resort to vending on the streets, a sector that does not directly compete with formal employment in shops or offices. By framing their livelihood as a response to exclusion rather than an act of job‑snatching, Tendai seeks to reframe the narrative around migrant work as a survival strategy rather than an economic threat.
Perspective of a Legal Resident Nigerian Business Owner
A Nigerian cosmetics shop owner, who requested anonymity, reinforced the argument that the protest unfairly targets those who have followed legal pathways. He confirmed possession of a valid passport and South African residency, emphasizing that he and others like him have complied with immigration regulations. “They shouldn’t be fighting with those of us who entered this country legally,” he stated, suggesting that the demonstrators’ grievances are misdirected and that lawful migrants should not bear the brunt of xenophobic sentiment fueled by broader economic frustrations.
Role of Advocacy Group Leaders
The march was visibly led by advocacy‑group figures Ngizwe Mchunu and Phakela Umthakathi Ndaba‑Ndaba. Their presence lent organizational coherence to the protest, as they directed chants, coordinated the movement toward the Gauteng legislature, and amplified the message that foreigners pose a threat to South African livelihoods. While their leadership helped sustain the demonstration’s momentum, it also raised questions about the sources of the rhetoric driving the march—whether it reflects genuine grassroots concern or is shaped by organized advocacy agendas.
Overall Implications and Calls for Peace
The events of April 29 2026 expose deep‑seated tensions over immigration, economic competition, and national identity in South Africa’s urban centers. Legal migrants like Gloria Cossa and the anonymous Nigerian entrepreneur demonstrate that many foreigners have navigated lengthy, costly processes to secure their right to reside and work. Simultaneously, informal traders highlight the practical benefits of cross‑border commerce, especially access to affordable goods and informal credit. The fear expressed by parents regarding their children’s safety and education reveals the human cost of xenophobic rhetoric. Moving forward, addressing these concerns will require policies that protect legal migrants, counteract misinformation about job loss, and foster dialogue between communities to prevent protests from escalating into violence or forced displacement.