South African police have formed a multi-disciplinary security team to investigate the killing of Andile Mvuyelwa Somgsada, the leader of the anti-immigration March and March movement in Gauteng province, after he was shot outside his home east of Johannesburg.
The movement said that Somgsada was shot while leaving his home on July 4, and was taken to hospital before succumbing to his wounds days later. The police have not yet announced the identity of the perpetrators of the attack or the motive behind it.
Acting National Commissioner of Police, Boleng Dimbani, confirmed that the formation of the multidisciplinary team reflects the seriousness of dealing with the case, pledging to conduct a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances of the crime and prosecute those responsible.
The movement’s spokesman, Sandile Dube, considered that the killing may be linked to its campaigns demanding the departure of undocumented immigrants, noting that other leaders in the movement had received threats and warnings. The movement did not provide evidence proving the crime was linked to its activity, while investigations are still ongoing.
March and March called on the police to provide protection for its leaders, declaring its intention to continue and intensify the weekly marches after the killing of Somgsada. The movement had informally set June 30 as the date for the departure of irregular migrants, and pledged to organize movements every Thursday until their demands were met.
Anti-immigrant campaigns have escalated in recent weeks in South Africa, as demonstrators stormed homes in Johannesburg in search of foreigners suspected of not having residency documents, and took them into police vehicles, despite the government’s warning against civilians assuming immigration enforcement duties.
In a separate incident, police arrested five people in Limpopo province on suspicion of impersonating immigration officials and forcing a Nigerian citizen to close his shop, before authorities confirmed that his residency and work documents were legal.
The protests coincided with the deportation or return of more than 53,000 African immigrants from South Africa within about a month, while the police arrested hundreds of people due to acts of violence, intimidation, and illegal searches of foreigners’ documents.
President Cyril Ramaphosa warned against holding migrants responsible for economic and social problems, stressing that implementing residency and immigration laws is the responsibility of state agencies, not groups or individuals.
