๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ก ๐๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ
More than 1,000 residents from Ocean View and Pellsrus marched through Jeffreys Bay on Wednesday in support of the growing anti-illegal immigration movement known as โAbahambeโ, which has been gaining momentum across South Africa.
The march, which moved through Ocean View, Tokyo Sexwale, Pellsrus, and the Jeffreys Bay CBD before ending at the South African Police station, was largely peaceful and heavily monitored by law enforcement agencies.
According to Kouga News, a strong security presence included SAPS officers, Kouga Traffic and Law Enforcement officials, private security companies, and members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The โAbahambeโ movement, meaning โthey must goโ, has spread to numerous towns and cities across the country in recent months, with communities raising concerns around undocumented foreign nationals, crime, unemployment, and drug-related activities.
In the Eastern Cape, one of the earliest major marches linked to the movement took place in KwaGompo (East London) on 30 March 2026, where residents marched against illegal immigration and alleged criminal activities.
Since then, anti-illegal immigration marches and protests have also taken place in parts of Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, with organisers insisting the movement is community-driven and not politically affiliated.
Residents participating in the Jeffreys Bay march said they wanted undocumented foreigners to leave the area.
Concerns were also raised about allegations of drug dealing and claims that employment opportunities are increasingly being taken by foreign nationals instead of local residents.
Although the demonstration remained peaceful overall, incidents were reported early on Wednesday morning, where some people were allegedly intimidated and told not to go to work.
Several businesses in the Jeffreys Bay central business district closed their doors during the march, while foreign-owned spaza shops in Ocean View also shut down after receiving advice from police the previous evening.
A similar march was held earlier this month in St Francis Bay, while reports suggest that another march may be planned for Hankey, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
Unlike traditional political demonstrations, organisers said the movement is not linked to any political party.
Community activists associated with the โMarch and Marchโ movement, including Jacinta Zuma, have publicly stated that the organisation will not register as a political party and will instead remain a grassroots community movement.
Authorities monitored the situation throughout the day, and no major violent incidents were reported during the march.
