A largely peaceful day of nationwide anti-illegal immigration protests was overshadowed by a shooting in Johannesburg’s Hillbrow on Tuesday, where a 17-year-old boy and another person were wounded after gunfire erupted during a march.
Gauteng police confirmed that three suspects were arrested after the shooting, which occurred as protesters moved through the Hillbrow CBD during demonstrations organised by the March and March movement, Operation Dudula and other organisations calling for stronger action against illegal immigration.
According to police, the suspects allegedly opened fire on protesters passing through the street, leaving the teenager and another person injured.
“The trio opened fire at protesters who were passing through the street, injuring two people,” Gauteng police said in a statement.
Police said angry protesters retaliated by setting the suspects’ vehicle alight before officers moved in.
“The three suspects were arrested and two licensed firearms, believed to have been used in the incident, were seized for further investigation,” police said.
The injured teenager was rushed to the hospital for treatment, while the second victim also received medical attention.
Unverified videos and social media posts circulating after the incident claimed the three arrested suspects were Nigerian nationals. One widely shared post alleged that the occupants of the vehicle drove towards the marchers before opening fire.
However, police have not confirmed the nationality of the suspects or released details of their identities. Authorities are expected to provide further information as investigations continue.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was then deployed to maintain a visible presence in Hillbrow following the shooting and the torching of the vehicle. Soldiers remained in the area alongside police as calm was restored.
The violence marked one of the few serious incidents reported during what the government described as largely peaceful demonstrations across South Africa.
Thousands of people participated in marches in major cities and towns, demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws, stronger border security and the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
Most demonstrations proceeded without violence as protesters marched under police escort, carrying placards and chanting slogans while organisers repeatedly urged participants to remain peaceful and avoid confrontations.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the government thanked South Africans for exercising their constitutional right to protest peacefully and responsibly.
It commended citizens, organisers, religious leaders, civil society groups and law enforcement agencies for ensuring that demonstrations remained orderly throughout much of the country.
“Whilst policing operations have been effective thus far, with demonstrations remaining largely peaceful across the country, police have responded to isolated incidents of looting and attempted looting,” the government said.
Authorities warned that anyone who used the protests as cover for criminal activity would face prosecution.
“Those who chose to exploit the marches to commit criminal acts will face the full might of the law. Police will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible for criminal conduct,” the statement said.
The government acknowledged that many South Africans had genuine concerns about unemployment, irregular migration, border management, crime and service delivery, saying these issues deserved to be addressed through lawful democratic processes.
At the same time, it urged communities to reject vigilantism, xenophobia and misinformation.
Government reaffirmed its commitment to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Comprehensive Approach for Migration Management, a five-point strategy aimed at strengthening immigration enforcement, securing South Africa’s borders, improving migration systems and closing legislative gaps.
It also said thousands of undocumented foreign nationals had recently been repatriated or deported as part of ongoing enforcement operations.
Tuesday’s demonstrations were among the largest coordinated anti-illegal immigration protests seen in recent years, with organisers insisting their campaign was directed at undocumented migration and criminality rather than foreign nationals in general.
The Hillbrow shooting, however, highlighted the tensions surrounding the issue and prompted a swift security response.
Meanwhile, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) announced it would brief the media on Wednesday evening on the outcome of the nationwide demonstrations and the security operations conducted across the country.
Police are expected to provide further details on the Hillbrow shooting, the condition of the victims and the charges the three arrested suspects are likely to face as investigations continue.
