Residents from Atteridgeville and surrounding communities returned to the streets on Monday for another “March on March” protest, continuing their campaign for employment opportunities and calling on companies in Pretoria West Industrial to prioritise South African job seekers.
The demonstration, organised by the civic movement Concerned Tshwane Residents (CTR), began at Maunde Park before protesters marched to Pheli Indaba, where they again voiced concerns over unemployment and the employment of undocumented foreign nationals.
Unlike previous marches, residents were encouraged to bring copies of their CVs, which organisers said would be collected and submitted to companies in an effort to help unemployed community members access job opportunities.
The latest protest forms part of an ongoing campaign by the movement, which has staged weekly demonstrations aimed at putting pressure on government and businesses to address unemployment in local communities.
Participants said they were frustrated by the high unemployment rate and believed more employment opportunities should be made available to South Africans.
Lucus Mkhavela, who attended the march, said the demonstrations had remained peaceful and should be taken seriously by government.
“We are protesting peacefully and we are not hurting anyone. The government should listen to us and respond to what we are asking for because we are only fighting for jobs,” he said.
Tumi Mokwena said it was disappointing that communities felt compelled to protest before their concerns were acknowledged.
“It is unfair that we have to march just for the government to listen to us. There are places where undocumented foreign nationals are employed, and we believe authorities know about them. We want government to enforce the law and ensure employment processes are fair,” she said.
Shaun Mahlangu said the movement had no intention of ending the demonstrations until government responded to its demands.
“We will not stop protesting until our voices are heard. These marches are raising awareness not only in Atteridgeville but also in other communities facing similar challenges,” he said.
During the gathering, organisers also announced that they intended to report properties where they believe undocumented foreign nationals were being accommodated to the relevant law enforcement authorities. They urged residents to report suspected immigration violations through the appropriate legal channels so that authorities could investigate.
Residents also said they hoped that submitting their CVs would improve their chances of securing employment at industries in Pretoria West.
Police officers monitored the demonstration throughout the day to ensure the protest remained peaceful and that participants exercised their constitutional right to assemble within the limits of the law. No incidents of violence were reported during the march.
The latest demonstration is one of several organised by Concerned Tshwane Residents in recent weeks, with the organisation maintaining that it will continue mobilising communities until its concerns over unemployment and immigration enforcement are addressed.