South African court sets limits on anti-immigration protests in Durban
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Vanguard
South Africa’s courts are regulating demonstrations by the anti-immigration movement March and March in Durban after several protests marked by violence and the death of a foreign national. Hundreds of activists gathered outside the court on 30 October, while the government sought to limit the rallies, reports Vanguard.
The Durban High Court authorised the anti-immigration movement March and March to hold demonstrations, while imposing tighter restrictions, on Friday 30 October in South Africa. Judge Peter Olsen set the gatherings between 9am and 3pm and banned participants from carrying weapons, covering their faces, destroying property or setting buildings alight, according to Vanguard.
The government had approached the courts to prevent the demonstrations, after a foreign national was beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people the previous week. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia cited a threat to public order and the safety of foreigners, as well as intelligence indicating an alleged plan to set fire to a refugee reception centre in Berea, Durban.
The demonstrations drew hundreds of people outside the Durban court, under the surveillance of the South African police. Members of ActionSA and the uMkhonto weSizwe party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, took part in the gathering. President Cyril Ramaphosa had deployed more than 500 soldiers to support the police after the violence, according to Vanguard. The case is due to return to court in 2027.
The decision comes after the death of a foreign national killed by 50 people in Durban, reported on 22 October. It follows Ramaphosa’s deployment of 510 soldiers on 27 October to tackle anti-immigrant violence in KwaZulu-Natal.
