XENOBAROMETER: Database of victim testimony details months of violence by March and March in Durban
Last month, on 3 September, March and March supporters converged on an encampment of displaced immigrants at Che Guevara Road in Durban in a ‘clean-up’ operation. But, in their own words, the people displaced there had been driven from their homes and businesses by March and March in the months before.
The new database presents testimony of 235 immigrants affected by the March and March movement in Durban. This group reported violent activities by supporters of the movement in the months leading to the movement's deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. The incidents, which took place throughout the year, peaked in May, involved armed groups attacking immigrants' homes, businesses, and workplaces.
The respondents described being assaulted, often with the use of weapons like machetes and spear. They were ordered to leave their homes and businesses, and their possessions were stolen or destroyed. In one case, a 54-year-old Burundian man was assaulted by a group of about 20 people and required hospitalization.
The police were reported to have often refused to assist immigrants reporting these incidents, often telling complainants to "go back" to their countries. In September 2026, the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign shared a redacted version of the database with Viewfinder for analysis. The organization also visited a shelter in Glenmore, Durban, housing immigrants who were unable to return home due to fears of further attacks.
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