Tshwane Residents Vow to Intensify Anti-illegal Immigrant Protest Despite Clash With Marabastad Community

• Disgruntled Tshwane residents have set their hearts on intensifying their protest against illegal immigrants in Marabastad
• The protesting residents and the Marabastad community clashed on Monday, resulting in protestors being chased away from the area
• While the extension of the ZEP sparked the civil action, the protestors are also targeting illegal immigrants who are operating businesses

MARABASTAD - A group of Tshwane residents have promised to intensify their week-long protest against illegal immigrants in Marabastad, Pretoria.

The protests kicked off on Monday, 19 June, and are expected to continue throughout the week as disgruntled residents voice their concerns.

However, trouble brewed during Monday's protests when the community in Marabastad rallied against the protestor and chased them out of the area. The Marabastad community accused the protestors of targeting legal immigrants and South Africans during their protest.

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Tshwane residents protests against illegal immigrants' operating businesses and ZEP extension

TimesLIVE reported that protests were sparked by Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to extend the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) until the end of December.

The group is also gunning for undocumented immigrants, who they claim are operating businesses and not contributing to SA's economy by paying taxes. They are calling on the government to take immediate.

Chief among the protester's aims is to shut down illegal foreign-owned businesses in the area. One of the organisers, Kagiso Kekana, told SABC News that the protests will continue throughout the week to ensure that another shop doesn't pop up when one is closed.

Kekana vowed:

"We are here until we reach our goal.”

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South Africans divided by illegal immigrant protest in Marabastad

Below are some comments:

@Sbusiso74202589 said:

"We all know that these protests won't help, foreigners won't leave this country, never."

@Khayale26576236 questioned:

"Why is it difficult for the government to enforce these people to pay taxes while it's easy to follow us to do so."

@MaGasa58502989 criticised:

"The animals are bloodthirsty once again."

@PanAfrican91 slammed:

"These self-hating, xenophobic, and Afrophobic people do not represent decent Africans."

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi extends the Zimbabwean exemption permits for another 6 months

In another story, Briefly News reported the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has once again to extend the Zimbabwean Exemption Permits (ZEP) for another six months.

The permits were initially supposed to expire on 20 June 2023 but were given a longer lifeline until the end of December.

According to TimesLIVE, the permit extension means ZEP holders can return to South Africa from Zimbabwe if they comply with the necessary requirements.

Source: Briefly News