SAPS and SANDF on High Alert as Scooter Riders Protest Against Foreign Nationals in Durban
- The army and police assembled along Moore Road in Durban on 27 October 2026 ahead of a scooter riders' protest march
- Riders claimed that law enforcement has failed to act against foreign nationals allegedly fighting with them
- South Africans weighed in on the protests, sharing various reactions to the conduct of the police and army
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Source: Twitter
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has spent a decade reporting on South Africa's political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online journalism.
KWAZULU-NATAL — The South African National Defence Force and South African Police Service were on high alert along Moore Road in Durban, as scooter riders held a protest march.
The riders claimed that authorities have failed to protect them from foreign nationals allegedly assaulting them in the area. The protest comes less than a week after Uber drivers took to the streets.
Moore Road, also known as Che Guevara Road, is the site of the Department of Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Office, where large numbers of foreign nationals have been camping on the pavement since approximately May 2026 while awaiting asylum processing or documentation. The road has become a recurring flashpoint between March and March members and the displaced persons camped there.
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SAPS and SANDF monitor the protests
During the protests, a standoff then developed between officers and marchers after police insisted demonstrators could not carry sticks during the march. The dispute drew public criticism, with several observers questioning the legal basis for the restriction.
Riders were ultimately forced to change their planned route to Berea SAPS after police blocked their original path. The army monitored the proceedings briefly before withdrawing from the area.
March and March Movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who has been vocal about the grievances of local delivery and e-hailing drivers, was also in attendance and addressed the crowd.
Rights and safety debate erupts online
The deployment and the police's conduct sparked debate on social media.
On the army's presence, @Terryrdcgt wrote:
"What else can they do, though? Nothing. They are wasting their time nje."
@dspha07 commented:
"Wasting state resources nje."
The police's decision to block the route prompted @IKEMERCY8 to ask:
"Aren't they infringing on people's right to protest??"
@JalambaTshezi1 added:
"What happened to the right to freedom? Our rights are being violated here."
The stick restriction drew further reaction.
@NtokozokaMaseko posted:
"Which law says protesters must not carry sticks when protesting?"
@dima_onzima responded:
"What should they carry? Guns?"
Ngobese-Zuma urges supporters to vote
Briefly News reported that Ngobese-Zuma urged March and March members to come out in their numbers on voting day.
The March and March leader issued a stark warning about the upcoming 4 November Local Government Elections.
Ngobese-Zuma framed the vote as critical to the movement's campaign against illegal immigration.
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Source: Briefly News
