Amanze Chinonye
South African authorities have intensified security around Durban as regional leaders gather for the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) 46th Ordinary Summit, with an anti-immigration group planning a march to press leaders over migration policy, Prime Business Africa reports.
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The protest, organised by March and March, is expected to converge near the Durban International Convention Centre, where the leaders’ summit is being held on Monday. Police have deployed a large contingent around the city as authorities prepare to manage the demonstration and protect delegates.
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March and March, founded by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has made undocumented immigration a central focus of its campaign. The group has staged demonstrations in several South African cities and is using Monday’s action to demand stronger immigration enforcement and greater responsibility from SADC governments for their citizens living in South Africa.
The protest comes as migration takes a more prominent place in the regional bloc’s discussions. South Africa and other members have proposed that migration be addressed by SADC leaders, while disagreements remain over efforts to advance the bloc’s stalled protocol on the movement of people.
South Africa is taking over the SADC chairmanship for 2026/27 at the summit, with President Cyril Ramaphosa presiding over the 16-member bloc.
Pretoria has put economic integration at the centre of its chairmanship, including a target of raising intra-SADC trade from about 20% currently to 50%. It also wants member states to increase beneficiation of critical minerals within the region rather than exporting them largely in raw form.
The security operation has been extended to the summit venue, with authorities warning that protest activity must remain peaceful and must not interfere with the meeting.
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, chair of the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints), said law enforcement agencies had activated comprehensive security arrangements for the summit. Authorities have warned that violence, intimidation, property damage or attempts to breach restricted areas would not be tolerated.
Police have also tightened controls on access to the convention centre. Two Congolese nationals were arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to enter the venue using accreditation issued to other people, according to authorities. Their identities reportedly did not match the credentials they presented.
The pair face charges including fraud and impersonation, as well as an alleged contravention of legislation governing access to designated event areas.
A Zimbabwean national was arrested earlier after allegedly trying to obtain summit accreditation by posing as a performing artist. He faces a charge related to being unlawfully present in South Africa.
The arrests bring to three the number of people detained in connection with alleged attempts to circumvent summit access controls.
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Beyond the protests and immigration debate, the summit is taking place against a difficult regional security backdrop, with eastern Democratic Republic of Congo at the centre of SADC’s security concerns.
At an Organ Troika summit in Durban on Sunday, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi said the region remained generally stable and free from interstate conflict but warned that the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC remained deeply concerning. He called for continued efforts to secure a peaceful and durable political settlement.
SADC is also continuing to support dialogue and reconciliation efforts in Madagascar, another issue identified by Magosi as a priority for the regional bloc.
The 46th SADC Summit follows a broader programme of regional meetings and culminates in the Heads of State and Government meeting on Monday. The leaders are expected to consider security and migration alongside trade, industrialisation, infrastructure, agriculture and the development of regional value chains.
For South Africa, the summit offers a platform to push its economic integration agenda while confronting domestic pressure over migration. For SADC, it presents a test of the bloc’s ability to reconcile deeper regional integration with persistent security challenges and differing national interests.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
