March and March Members Clash With Congolese Refugees at Durban Home Affairs Camp

• Hundreds of March and March movement members confronted Congolese refugees camped outside Durban's Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road
• Violence erupted during a so-called clean-up march, leaving a police officer and a movement leader among those injured
• Police deployed stun grenades and arrested at least one foreign national as rocks flew between the two groups

DURBAN — Violence broke out on Che Guevara Road on Thursday when hundreds of March and March movement members confronted a camp of Congolese refugees stationed outside the Department of Home Affairs offices in Durban on 3 September 2026. The camp is the area where a foreign national died three days ago after his tuberculosis treatment regimen failed because of the conditions of the camp.

According to IOL, the march began at King Dinuzulu Park, with members describing their action as a "clean-up" operation. More than 20 police officers accompanied the group as it made its way to the site, where Congolese refugees have been camping for approximately four months.

Read also

Durban refugee dies of TB after months living on pavement on Che Guevara Road

Violence erupts on Che Guevara Road

Tensions rapidly deteriorated into physical confrontation as rocks were thrown between the two groups. A leader of the March and March movement sustained a visible facial injury, with blood visible from his mouth, while a police officer was also struck by a rock. Officers gave chase and detained the alleged attacker. At least two Congolese nationals were injured in the confrontation. In an effort to restore order and prevent further violence, police deployed stun grenades to disperse the crowd.

Refugees say they have nowhere to go

March and March members argued their action was driven by concerns about the state of the area, including complaints about waste, noise, and disruptions to nearby businesses and residents' livelihoods. They demanded that foreign nationals return to their countries of origin. The Congolese refugees, however, said they had no safe alternative. They called on the South African government to intervene and offer protection, citing fears about returning to local communities outside the camp.

Read also

21-year-old killed during Spring Day water celebrations in Cullinan, Tshwane

View a video of the group outside Home Affairs on X:

Take your nationals home: March and March

In a related article, Briefly News reported on the recent demonstrations held by the anti-illegal immigration group March and March during the Southern African Development Community Summit in Durban. The group's provocative message urged regional heads of State to take undocumented foreign nationals back to their home countries.

Source: Briefly News