“We’re Not Surprised”: SA Divided Over Cape Town Church's Anti-Xenophobia Counter-Protest

• Briefly News was on the ground at the Western Cape provincial parliament on 30 June 2026 for the march
• Organisations March and March, LACO and Operation Dulula demanded answers on illegal immigration and jobs
• Members of the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr stood nearby with anti-xenophobia placards

Briefly News was outside the Western Cape provincial parliament on 30 June 2026. Three organisations marched to demand answers on illegal immigration and jobs.

March and March, Labour And Civic Organisation, and Operation Dulula handed in a memorandum on 11 June 2026. They wanted government feedback on rising unemployment linked to undocumented foreign workers.

South Africa continues to battle one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. Youth unemployment remains especially severe across most provinces.

Church group counters with anti-xenophobia message

Just metres from parliament, members of the Cathedral Church of St. George the Martyr gathered separately. They held signs condemning the march and its message.

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Their presence created a visible split outside the building. Some onlookers supported the church group, while others backed the marching organisations.

Briefly News shared the moment on Facebook, and South Africans quickly weighed in. Reactions ranged from strong agreement to outright frustration with both sides.

One commenter said their South African identity comes before any continental label. They argued their passports define them more than geography does. Another user claimed that harmful people often hide behind religious institutions. They felt church involvement complicated an already sensitive national issue.

Another commenter said distance makes it easy to dismiss real concerns. They believed people unaffected by job losses often misname the problem. Someone else compared the backlash to a chain reaction. They suggested that one provocation often triggers a much larger response.

The division reflects a broader national conversation around migration and employment. South Africans remain split on how to balance both issues fairly.

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South African informal trader opens up about why he wants undocumented foreign nationals to leave

Briefly News will continue following developments linked to this story.

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More about 30 June

• President Cyril Ramaphosa met with selected anti-immigration movement leaders Ngizwe Mchunu and Nkosikhona Ndabandaba ahead of planned nationwide protests.
• Ngizwe Mchunu urges police support during Johannesburg’s anti-illegal immigration protests.
• Rachel Kolisi reacts to photos of thousands of Zimbabweans seeking repatriation in Cape Town's cold rain.

Source: Briefly News