‘We’ll never support anarchy’ — Mbalula slams anti-illegal immigration marches

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has come out strongly against recent anti-illegal immigration marches, warning that the movement risks descending into lawlessness and political opportunism.
“We will never support anarchy in our country,” Mbalula said, adding that South Africa must remain a lawful society that upholds its constitutional values.
He criticised incidents of violence linked to the protests, saying Africans should not be “beaten up and chased like dogs”, and stressed that immigration challenges must be handled through legal and structured processes.
Mbalula argued that the marches are not purely issue-based, but have evolved into something more political. “This is not a pure issue of immigration,” he said, claiming there is a “political hand behind it” aimed at undermining the ANC.
He alleged that some protest leaders had openly aligned themselves with political parties and were using public anger around immigration to mobilise support. In some instances, he said, calls were made during protests for people to vote for specific parties.
According to Mbalula, what may have started as a community-driven concern has become increasingly aggressive in its stance against the governing party. He likened the movement to “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” that initially appeared subtle but has since taken on a more overt political tone.
While acknowledging that illegal immigration is a real concern, Mbalula said it is a global issue and not unique to South Africa. He warned against framing the country as xenophobic on the international stage, saying such narratives could damage its standing and have long-term consequences.
“Those who won’t bear the consequences will be in the streets as peacetime heroes, but the country will suffer long after,” he said.
Mbalula also cautioned that the situation could backfire, potentially isolating South Africa globally and fuelling instability at home.
He urged unity across political lines to address immigration challenges responsibly, warning against what he described as “wedge drivers” seeking to divide society and destabilise the country. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
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