Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Thokoza, east of South Africa, on Thursday to protest the employment of undocumented migrants they claim has driven local unemployment.
Footage shows protesters chanting and carrying sticks, with one demonstrator dressed in traditional chieftain attire leading the procession. Police maintained a heavy presence to monitor the demonstration and preserve public order.
Organisers said the protest targeted companies’ hiring of foreign nationals allegedly lacking proper documentation, leaving local job seekers without work. Demonstrators also linked various criminal activities to undocumented immigration.
Protesters called for transparency in corporate recruitment processes and demanded that companies explain their hiring practices, according to media reports.
President Cyril Ramaphosa urged citizens to stop violence against foreign nationals amid the protest wave, while acknowledging that South Africa faces “a high influx of undocumented immigrants.”
The Thokoza demonstration forms part of a wider anti-illegal immigration movement that has swept across South Africa in recent weeks, with community groups accusing businesses of hiring undocumented workers while citizens remain jobless.
South Africa’s expanded unemployment rate climbed to 43.7 percent in the first quarter of 2026, affecting 8.1 million people and remaining above 30 percent for more than five consecutive years.
Despite accusations that foreign nationals are taking local jobs, researchers and rights organisations contend that migrants predominantly fill positions that South Africans refuse to accept. Enditem
Source: Viory, UAE
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