With the 30 June deadline issued by the March and March movement arriving tomorrow, anxiety is running high across South Africa. We need to cut through the panic with hard facts. What specific questions do you have about tomorrow? Our investigative journalists, who are currently tracking the political ties behind March and March, monitoring the SAPS deployments, and reporting from the ground, are here to answer them.
Let us know what questions you need the DM newsroom to tackle, or ask in interviews while out in the field, below.
What can we expect will take place during the protests… will it be similar to the looting?
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It is too early to say for sure whether there will be widespread looting and unrest, however some are concerned that tomorrow’s demonstrations will mirror the July unrest the nation experienced in July 2021.
But a key distinction from the July 2021 unrest is that, this time, The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoints) seems to be prepared.
NatJoints chairperson Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili is actually addressing the nation right now, detailing the R600 million plans have been put in place to ahead of the demonstartions.
She has vowed that Government is ready, and promised that while it would secure peaceful marches, the security clusters will protect every community and safeguard critical infrastructure.
Mosikili also said that carrying dangerous weapons was a big no-no, and those who are caught doing so will be arrested.
Also 195 arrests anti-immigrant arrests have also already been made since 1 March 2026.
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Hi Daily Maverick
What advice should companies be giving to staff in or near the Durban city area to work? There are differences in how this is being approached, with some taking a ‘business as usual’ stand, while others are encouraging those to work at home, who can.
This is something larger companies will answer through their own security officers. That said, near the Durban CBD, if staff are not essential workers and cannot safely get to and from work, it might be best to suggest working from home today.
I think of it this way: 99% chance nothing happens and it’s a normal day. But that 1% can be catastrophic, and something an employer or compassionate human being will regret for the rest of their lives.
Unless work is a hospital, police or fire station, why risk anything?
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Are you heading out for a normal day, or hunkering down?
Staying home
Heading to work
Since KuGompo City (formerly East London) has been listed as one of the higher risk hotspots, will Daily Maverick be commenting on our area in today’s live blog?
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Good morning! I just chatted to our EC colleagues. They are keeping tabs on the area, and are ready to report.
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Hi there.
We are planning to go on holiday tomorrow (Wed 1 Jul) Bloem to Port Shepstone.
Did the march damage any roads - escpecially N3 and do you deem it safe to travel?
Lerato mentioned Ngobese-Zuma and tribalism, writing, “March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma spent much of her speech to the crowd outside the Point Police Station in Durban regurgitating her anti-immigrant sentiments from the past couple of years, blaming people from China, Pakistan, Nigeria and other African countries for SA’s socioeconomic ills. Yet in the same breath she claims that today’s protest is not xenophobic. She claims it has nothing to do with tribalism, but then refers to herself and those gathered as the descendants of Shaka Zulu who must live up to the legacy of a great nation.” Is this an accurate statement? If so, this is a dangerous statement as she(Zuma) is excluding everyone in SA, legal or otherwise, born residents and not, save the descendants of Shaka.
I’m fortunate enough to be working from home today. Have had the TV on, and must say that I found it heartbreaking where children were involved with the arrest of their parent/s. If only we could all live in peace….
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So far the protests don’t seem as extensive as the 2021 riots (touch wood). What does this mean for the R600 million budget allocated to security? Does all of that still get used regardless? 
Hi @emilyrosesteyn, NatJoints boss said last night that the R600-million was not intended for only one day (Tuesday, 30 June). It was unclear what exactly it would be used for after today, but she seemed to suggest that it would be for government to continue with its crackdown on illegal immigration.
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How organised and focused have the protests been? Aside from the memo(?) handed over at constitution hill, does it seem like everyone taking part in the protests share the same policy concerns? Or is it more like people getting swept up in a frenzy?
Hi @Carla_Bester, one of our journalists, @Lilly, is reporting from Joburg. Here is her answer to your question:
It does seem like people are getting swept up in a frenzy, but also, there is organisation. There was evident organisation in mobilizing men - who were dressed and ready to protest - from the hostels, but the protest splintered into about four groups as the day went on, with only a core MK and Operation Dudula handing over the memorandum.
The splintering does suggest a lack of organisation, or differing leadership views and actions, but what motivated the splintering was difficult to establish.
A representative of Siyana Sonke, the organisation monitoring the march and its various splinters, did say the lack of organisation as the day went on was embarrassing.
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ONE question about the article by Mondli Makhanya yesterday, titled “Tuesday, 30 June 2026 — the day the SA state ceded power to rabble-rousers”
I am terribly shocked to find the photo-shopped or AI generated photographs of Ramaphosa shaking hands!!
What on earth made you do that?!?!
Please, please explain and apologise publicly! How can I - and the public at large - otherwise continue trusting your publications??
At a complete loss,
Eveline Kok
PS: the issue is with the photographs being false, no matter who or what is on them!
Good morning @evelinejkok952, I raised your concern with our editorial team. This is a response from Deputy Editor, Anso Thom (@ansothom):
Dear Eveline, that photo is definitely not AI generated, software was used to sharpen the photo, not create it. The photo was of a low resolution and in effort to make it sharper we used a variety of software. Using software to shapen images has been used for many many years. Daily Maverick will never create a photo and not declare that it is not real. Thanks.
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It is now clear that March and March was just one more attempt to stampede parliament and voters into panic mode in the run-up to voting in November. Some politicians and many (potential) voters fell for it. When we panc we can easily do irrational things - like voting for a strongman (Zuma/Trump) or radical parties (anti-constitutional generally). What are other such tactics/attempts we should be aware of? Please give rational parties with South Africa’s well-being in mind rather than their own party much more airtime/magazine space.
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Now that the “illegal” immigrants have been gotten rid of where are all the unemployed South Africans stepping up to the plate to replace them in the jobs that they were allegedly stealing from them.
While Government budgetted R 600 million for June 30, the protesters also needed money. Who financed them and how much came from foreign sources
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