Context on the protest and security measures
The March and March movement (founded by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma) has organised under themes such as “It’s time to fetch your people,” calling on SADC member states to take greater responsibility for their nationals living undocumented in South Africa. This follows their high-profile June 2026 nationwide actions (including a self-imposed 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants to leave), which were largely peaceful under heavy policing but heightened national tensions around immigration, crime, and service delivery.
Police and NATJOINTS have treated the ICC and surrounding precinct as a red zone with controlled access, accreditation, face-recognition cameras, specialised units (including public order policing, VIP protection, and others), and coordination involving SAPS, Metro Police, SANDF elements, and other agencies. Authorities have publicly stated that peaceful, lawful protest is constitutionally protected, but any disruption of the summit, violence, intimidation, or attempts to breach restricted areas will not be tolerated and will be met with decisive action within the law.
Key operational points from reporting:
- The main planned route is described as starting from Durban City Hall and moving toward South Beach / Point areas (a traditional focus for these groups due to perceptions of high concentrations of undocumented foreign nationals and related crime concerns).
- Protesters are being diverted away from the ICC precinct itself to designated areas (sometimes referred to as a speaker’s corner near South Beach) precisely to avoid compromising summit security.
- Heavy visible policing, road closures in the CBD and around the ICC, and monitoring of social-media mobilisation have been in place for days.
