Group Plans Workplace Inspections for Undocumented Immigrants on Mandela Day in Eastern Cape

March and March said it would inspect businesses across towns in South Africa’s Eastern Cape on July 18 and physically remove undocumented immigrants from workplaces. The group stated it would forgo the day’s traditional 67 minutes of service to carry out the actions. The Nelson Mandela Foundation condemned the plans.

Mbongiseni Buthelezi, chief executive of the foundation, said groups using the day to target immigrants were turning a day of service into one of division. “What we do see now is something that is quite divisive and quite unhelpful, and it is something that we absolutely condemn,” Buthelezi told Al Jazeera.

“We have seen some groups saying they are going to use Mandela Day to rid cities of immigrants.

We condemn that unequivocally. ” South African authorities reported that more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated since a nationwide migration operation began, mainly to Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. The government has condemned xenophobia while increasing enforcement.

Snuki Zikalala, president of the ANC Veterans’ League, said Nelson Mandela would never have condoned the targeting of African migrants. “Not in Mandela’s name. People must not use Mandela’s name. We cannot chase people out of South Africa as if they are animals.

They are human beings,” Zikalala stated on July 18. He added that the ANC bore some responsibility for failing to remain active in communities. Neeshan Bolton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said Mandela’s identity as a liberation leader has increasingly been overshadowed by a simpler image focused on community service.