A South African woman has criticised recent anti-illegal immigration demonstrations organised by the March and March movement, arguing that calls for foreigners to leave the country fail to consider the impact on families and children.
Speaking in an interview with Newzroom Afrika on June 20, 2026, the Cape Town resident expressed concern about the consequences such campaigns could have on South Africans who have built families with foreign nationals.
According to her, many South Africans are in relationships with foreigners and have children together, making the issue far more complex than simply demanding the removal of undocumented migrants.
She warned that forcing foreign partners out of the country could leave many women to shoulder the burden of raising children on their own, creating financial and emotional challenges for affected families.
“It’s not right, especially. What happened, I don’t like it. We have children with foreigners, and then after that, you say the foreigners must go.
“Who’s going to support the child? I can’t support the child alone, so it’s better to take the child with the foreigner,” she said.
Her remarks come amid growing debate in South Africa over immigration and the presence of undocumented foreign nationals.
The demonstrations, organised by the March and March group, have drawn support from some South Africans who are calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws and the removal of undocumented migrants.
However, critics argue that the protests risk fuelling division and could have unintended consequences for families, communities and children with mixed-nationality backgrounds.
The woman’s comments have sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some users disagreeing with her position. In contrast, others expressed support and shared similar concerns about the human impact of anti-immigration campaigns.
The debate continues to highlight the complex social and economic issues surrounding immigration in South Africa, where questions of border control, employment and family ties remain at the centre of public discussion.
