Following actions by the anti-illegal immigration group March and March, the Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre located on Moore Road (previously Che Guevara Road) has been shut down. Members of the group turned away a large number of foreign nationals who were waiting to register for asylum.
This event resulted in significant tension, prompting a strong response from law enforcement and leaving numerous asylum seekers stranded outside.
Many foreign nationals had gathered outside the facility in light of a recent ruling from the Constitutional Court, along with directives from Home Affairs that mandated in-person application processes at refugee reception offices.
However, the situation took a turn when activists from the March and March group arrived at the scene.
They forcibly removed individuals from the lines and blocked access to the entrance, declaring that “no foreigners” would be allowed entry.
The group has called for a complete suspension of asylum processing, alleging that many of those applying are economic migrants rather than legitimate refugees.
Activists from March and March have maintained a vigilant presence outside the offices since the incident began.
According to reports, the demonstrators stayed awake overnight, keeping watch to ensure that the building remained off-limits to applicants.
Notable public figures and activists—including Mavava Sikhakhane, Felemntwini Gumede, and Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of March and March—were also seen at the site late last night.
They spent the night assessing the shutdown situation and observing the crowd’s developments.
In response to the initial confrontations, Public Order Police have been heavily deployed in the area, employing stun grenades to manage the crowd.
As local authorities and the eThekwini Municipality confront the ongoing unrest, operations at the Department of Home Affairs are entirely stalled, with no clear timeline for when processing activities might safely recommence.
