South Africa is on high alert for the nationwide mass action today (30 June), as civil society group March and March, along with other organisations, have called for demonstrations focused on illegal immigration and border control.

The protests centre around a call for all undocumented migrants to leave the country.

Law enforcement agencies have spent the past two weeks finalising operational plans to manage the expected demonstrations.

Follow todays timeline here:

14:00 – Threats of a national shutdown did not materialise today in Stellenbosch. The streets from Kayamandi to Cloetesville to the central business district (CBD) have been quiet all day. Business has continued as per usual and residents have been carrying on with their normal daily activities.

Law enforcement members are however still deployed across the municipality on a 24-hour basis and an operational contingency plan remains in place, the Stellenbosch Municipality said. Read more here.

13:30 – In the Saldanha Bay municipal area, only two small gatherings were reported in Laingville in St Helena Bay and in the streets of Paternoster. Most West Coast towns remained calm with no visible signs of protest while emergency and law enforcement services were present in all towns as a precaution.

According to Joey Peters, coordinator of the Saldanha Bay Security Initiative, no disruptions to traffic, businesses or public services were reported by mid afternoon and no incidents of violence had been confirmed. He added that the operational team would continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates should any changes or incidents arise.

13:00 – Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Majola Nkohli said that police can confirm that there was a peaceful demonstration in Kareedouw this morning. He said it is believed that the protest was related to service delivery. Nkohli said a group later dispersed, following the address by relevant authorities.

12:30 – Taxi violence has erupted in the Helderberg today, as well as a series of shooting incidents across the basin. Police spokesperson sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that police responded to a shooting in the Somerset West policing precinct.

Two passengers inside a minibus, believed to be security guards, had been shot and wounded in the attack. The victims were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The suspects fled the scene and no arrests have been made.

A second incident emerged when footage of a taxi pockmarked by gunfire, which had pulled into a Firgrove service station, circulated widely on social media. At the time of publication, the scene was still active and no further information is currently available.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the taxi violence is in any way linked to the national 30 June protest actions – with no unrest reported locally at the time of publication. Read more here.

12:20 – Two protest groups — Operation Dudula and March And March — have merged along Wale Street in Cape Town near the Western Cape Provincial Parliament and are now protesting together. Currently the situation remain without incident.

12:10 – The much-anticipated 30 June anti-illegal immigration protests that had the Overberg on high alert amounted to little more than a quiet walk along the seafront today. In Hermanus, a group of approximately 50 people made their way along Still Street near the New Harbour in Zwelihle. Overstrand Traffic Services temporarily closed the road as a precaution, with a detour put in place for motorists.

The Police and Public Order Police (POPS) were on the scene, but the mood was subdued. The organiser of the protest emphasised that this is a peaceful march. “Anyone who will do something wrong will be arrested. This is a peaceful march,” he said.

ALSO READ: Government commits to managing migration amid nationwide demonstrations

In Gansbaai – identified in the days leading up to 30 June as one of the Western Cape’s primary hotspot areas, following weeks of unrest that had displaced hundreds of foreign nationals from their homes – the day passed without incident. Police conducted routine foot patrols through the town, and there was little sign of the disruption authorities had braced for.

The muted turnout stands in stark contrast to the weeks of tension that preceded the day, during which anti-immigrant marches in Hermanus, Kleinmond and Gansbaai had forced hundreds of people – mostly from Malawi and Mozambique from their homes, with some spending nights hiding in the mountains and on the beach.

12:00 – The ministry of police has confirmed that several people have been arrested for looting and attempted looting during nationwide demonstrations today, with law enforcement maintaining a high alert status across the country. The arrests were made from the early hours of Tuesday morning, with police responding to isolated incidents of looting reported in parts of South Africa. Read more here.

11:30 – Law enforcement officers stage a stop-and-search operation at Durban Road, Bellville, near Cape Town.

11:00 – In Durban, small groups of protesters in Zulu attire carrying sticks and shields gathered at a park, singing and chanting “abahambe”, meaning “let them go”, as security forces kept watch.

10:42 – A small group of about 40 people gathered at the Maroela Circle in Bloekombos, in Kraaifontein near Cape Town, and is now on their way to the Kraaifontein police station. According to Rob Bisset chair of Tygerberg Cluster Community Police Forum, the group plans to hand over a memorandum to the station commander. To date there has been no reports of unrest.  

10:20 – Early this morning chaos erupted in Avian Park in Worcester when police were forced to use teargas to disperse looters who wanted to gain forced entry to the Avian Mall situated in Albatross Street. Due to the nationwide anti-migration protests the mall did not open its doors today for business.

When Novanews visited the scene the police were on hight alert. Law enforcement officials including Traffic Services are highly visible in potential hot spot areas.

Compared to other days, Durban Street in Worcester which is always a buzz with activity, was quiet this morning. Only a few shops in High and Durban Street were however closed for business.       

Novanews also received reports of looting incidents late last night (29 June) at Spaza shops in Zwelethemba and Avian Park in Worcester. When the looting started fearful Spaza shop owners immediately closed their shops.

10:00 – Bloemfontein informal traders are evidently absent today in Middestad Centre where they usually trade in large numbers. Numerous stalls in the area are always buzzing with informal traders selling a diverse range of items — vegetables, clothing, accessories, and food — competing directly with large established businesses. Furthermore, the City currently remains quiet and calm.

The Bloemfontein CBD experienced an unusual quiet following heightened tensions and localised protest marches against undocumented migration in the Mangaung Metro.

08:45 – Tshwane Metro Police Department has warned motorists of road closures and traffic disruptions on Tuesday, 30 June, due to a planned march through Pretoria’s city centre.

The march, organised by March & March, is aimed at protesting against illegal immigrants. Participants are expected to gather at Church Square from 10:00 before proceeding to Sunnyside Police Station, with the event expected to conclude at approximately 15:00.

The procession will follow a route along Paul Kruger Street, Francis Baard Street, Lilian Ngoyi Street, Madiba Street, Nelson Mandela Drive, Kotze Street, Van Boeschoten Avenue, Robert Sobukwe Street and Leyds Street before ending at Sunnyside Police Station.

Metro police have advised motorists to plan alternative routes and expect delays in the affected areas during the five-hour period.

08:30 – Mossel Bay has experienced no protest-related incidents, with all monitored areas remaining calm and operational as coordinated security patrols continue across the municipality.

Joint deployments comprising the South African Police Service, Municipal Law Enforcement, K9 Unit and Provincial Traffic have maintained a visible presence throughout key areas, including Asla Taxi Rank, Kwa Nonqaba New Taxi Rank, Cuba Informal Settlements and Barcelona Circle in Kwa Nonqaba.

Security forces have been coordinating operations from KwaNonqaba Police Station to ensure operational readiness. No signs of illegal gatherings or unrest have been observed in any of the monitored locations.

All spaza and tuck shops within the monitored areas remain open and operational. In Dana Bay, private security company Alcatraz and Neighbourhood Watch members have been stationed at the entrance as a precautionary measure.

Municipal authorities have urged residents to follow only official municipal and law enforcement channels for verified updates and to refrain from sharing unverified information. Any concerns should be reported through official channels.

08:00 – Central Paarl has been quiet this morning, with less traffic and especially minibus taxi’s on the roads. Foreign owned businesses in Lady Grey Street in the CBD remain shut and an increase in law enforcement and security vehicles have been patrolling the streets.

06:45 – SAPS has so far reported no serious incidents.

06:00 -In the Northern Cape, police members in all five districts have been strategically deployed and remain on standby to respond effectively to any incidents that may arise during the 30 June shutdown and concurrent activities.

Multi-disciplinary parades were conducted early this morning in anticipation of the planned marches and activities that may unfold during the day, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement stakeholders.

Brigadier Mashay Gamieldien, police spokesperson, said comprehensive operational plans have been implemented to ensure a safe, secure, and peaceful environment.

Gamieldien stated that the South African Police Service respects the constitutional right of individuals to express their views and participate in lawful activities. However, any acts of criminality, intimidation, violence, damage to property or disruption of essential services will not be tolerated and will be addressed decisively within the framework of the law.

Operational teams will continue to monitor developments, engage with stakeholders, and maintain a visible policing presence throughout the province to promote safety and stability.

Community members are urged to remain calm, cooperate with law enforcement officials, and report any suspicious or unlawful activities through the appropriate channels.

30 June
The date serves as the focal point for the protest movement’s deadline, with March and March and other organisations planning nationwide demonstrations.

29 June
In his weekly newsletter, President Ramaphosa reiterated that whilst the government acknowledges concerns regarding immigration, citizens have a responsibility to pursue change peacefully and warned against violence or intimidation.

The Portfolio Committee on Police conducted oversight visits across the country to assess police readiness. Gauteng police confirmed deployment of more than 13 000 personnel, including 2 000 traffic officers and 8 000 traffic wardens, supported by helicopters, drones and over 33 000 CCTV cameras.

27 June
Security forces remained on high alert nationwide, with specific deployment in areas identified as moderate-to-high risk, such as Tembisa, Jeppestown and the City Deep market corridor in Gauteng.

26 June
Government officials, including the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, officially declared 30 June a “normal working day” and warned against vigilantism or attempts to destabilise the country. Authorities announced the expansion of the Musina Refugee Reception Office’s jurisdiction to expedite verification processes.

More than 15 000 Malawian nationals had been processed for departure. Nearly 2 000 individuals were repatriated via government-sponsored flights from Nigeria and Ghana.

25 June
Seventeen buses attempting to transport foreign nationals for repatriation were turned back at the Beitbridge border due to a lack of required emergency travel certificates and valid cross-border permits. By end of day, 15 162 Malawian nationals had been processed for deportation and repatriation nationwide.

President Ramaphosa told the National Council of Provinces that security forces would be on “ready” to prevent instability and ensure 30 June remains a normal day.

24 June
Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia announced that a R600 million operation had been funded to ensure police readiness for 30 June demonstrations. He outlined comprehensive operational plans involving SAPS, the Department of Defence and provincial leadership. By 21 June, authorities had registered 89 criminal cases related to public order and incitement, leading to 164 arrests.

23 June
Minister of home affairs Leon Schreiber reported that 9 488 foreign nationals had been repatriated or deported from the Durban Drive-In site, with an additional 7 000 individuals awaiting processing. A further 657 people were repatriated from a site in Pietermaritzburg deemed to have inhumane conditions.

16 June
During Youth Day commemorations, President Ramaphosa stated that the 30 June deadline set by anti-immigrant groups was “not even necessary”. He emphasised that immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the state, not ordinary citizens.

Week of 15 June
Authorities arrested 5 056 individuals for contravention of immigration laws during a week-long enforcement operation.

12 June to 24 June
Intensive repatriation processing occurred at the Beitbridge port of entry, where over 8 200 foreign nationals were processed for return to their home countries, including 6 709 Malawians and 1 521 Zimbabweans.

8 June
Anti-immigrant protests erupted in Ekurhuleni’s industrial hubs, including Boksburg, Springs and Benoni. Marchers demanded that businesses terminate the employment of all foreign nationals, regardless of documentation status, by 30 June. A separate e-Chaile (time is up) march took place in Polokwane, Limpopo.