Residents of Soweto demand landlords stop renting to illegal immigrants

Protests against illegal immigrants took place across the Western Cape on Tuesday due to the approaching deadline of June 30 set by groups advocating for measures against undocumented workers. Protesters gathered in towns such as Cape Town, Hermanus, Краайфонтейн, and Delft.

Demands and Participation in Actions

Demonstrators represented organizations like March and March, Operation Dudula, and Labour and Civic Organisation (LACO). They pledged to intensify their campaign, citing the unsatisfactory response from the provincial government. Although the Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, stated in the morning that the city had not received an official application for a march, the demonstration still proceeded through Cape Town's central business district. Starting with a small number of participants, the crowd grew as supporters from various groups joined in.

Protesters' Arguments

Participants in the protest claimed that illegal immigrants contribute to rising crime rates, unemployment, and social problems, including drug abuse and gender-based violence. However, these claims remain widely disputed and are unsubstantiated by any evidence.

Appeal to the Government

A representative of LACO, Sifo Mahilili, reported that the goal of Tuesday's march was to receive a response to a memorandum submitted to the Western Cape Government on June 11. Mahilili emphasized that since the deadline passed without a reply, they continue to demand a reaction despite sending emails and making calls.

Memorandum Content and Official Response

The memorandum, which was submitted along with over one hundred resumes of unemployed South Africans across the province, demands that the provincial government ensure that private businesses are audited by the Department of Employment and Labour to determine the legality of employee employment in South Africa. In response, Director Dr. H.S. Malila, speaking on behalf of the Western Cape Government, told the crowd that the province does not have the legal authority to regulate hiring practices in the private sector. He clarified that the Western Cape Government has no mandate to dictate to private companies, nor does it appoint people to positions in the private or NGO sectors.

Passing of Responsibility

Malila also returned the resumes presented under the memorandum, noting that they were submitted outside the official public sector recruitment process. He advised LACO and protesters to direct their concerns to the provincial inspection of the Department of Employment and Labour, which has the authority to investigate alleged violations of labor laws. This reaction caused dissatisfaction among some attendees; one protester exclaimed that the authorities 'want us to do their job for them.'

Future Steps of the Campaign

After receiving a response from the province, Mahilili stated that Tuesday's march marked the beginning of a broader campaign. He stressed that June 30 is just the start, and they will not stop until they achieve victory. Since the province referred them to the national department, that is where they will proceed next. Mahilili called on supporters to remain mobilized and monitor the organizations' social media for information on future actions, signaling that the June 30 protests will likely be followed by further actions directed at the federal government.

Residents of the São Vicente parish in Lisbon protested against the decision by the Lisbon City Council (CML) to install an overnight shelter for homeless people in a location considered unsuitable. Residents from Rua Álvares Fagundes and surrounding areas demand that the CML explain the criteria used to choose the old garages of two municipal buildings managed by Gebalis.

They argue that the location is technically inadequate and socially insensitive, as it is on a dead-end street with pre-existing mobility and emergency circulation issues.

Additionally, the center was installed next to a playground needing renovation, which increases the concern of local families. Residents argue that adding more problems to an already vulnerable area constitutes negligence, and they plan a demonstration to demand a review of the decision. In parallel, a public petition has been launched addressed to the president of the Lisbon Municipal Assembly, André Moz Caldas, requesting that the CML not proceed with the facility without essential clarifications.