Protest at Highway centre leaves staff unsure of return, immigrant owners say documents were in order
Workers and shop owners at the Highway shopping centre in Mdantsane are still reeling after sustained protests by the organisation March and March forced several businesses to close over the past week, with some yet to reopen. The action, which saw dozens of protesters camp outside the centre, has left South African employees anxious about losing income and employers disputing claims made by the protesters.
According to reporting by GroundUp, members of March and March demanded that immigrant shop owners present immigration documents and proof of substantial local investment. Protesters told the shops to shut and for some to leave the country. Police intervened and told protesters to vacate the area on Saturday, 8 August, but several outlets — including salons, hardware stores and food vendors — have not resumed trading.
Staff interviewed by GroundUp said they feared the protests would return and that closures could become permanent, jeopardising livelihoods. Lona Twayise, 23, who secured work at a hardware store in 2025, described how the action disrupted what she considered a rare employment opportunity after years of joblessness.
“We came here to create jobs, not to take them. If we continue like this, we will lose money and that will affect the workers,”
The remark above was attributed to the store owner, Anish Patel, who GroundUp reported is originally from India and has been in South Africa for more than 20 years. Patel said he employs seven South African workers, of which three are permanent and four casual. He told GroundUp that police accompanied him and other shop owners to Home Affairs to verify documentation and that officials confirmed their papers were in order.
What workers and owners say — immediate impacts
- Several shops at the Highway centre were closed after protesters demanded documentation and proof of large-scale investment.
- Police removed the campers on 8 August, but not all businesses had reopened by the time of reporting.
- Employee concerns centre on job security, while some owners say harassment continues irrespective of legal status.
Employees at the affected shops described a climate of intimidation. GroundUp reported that March and March members visited the hardware store and demanded documents proving legal residence and an asserted investment threshold of R500-million, a claim the owner said was unrealistic and unrelated to normal business operations.
| Business | Employees (per owner) | Status after protest |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware store (owner: A. Patel) | 7 (3 permanent, 4 casual) | Closed during protest; documentation verified at Home Affairs |
Wider context and local consequences
The episode in Mdantsane reflects broader tensions around foreign-owned small businesses in some South African townships, where disputes over competition and perceptions of employment impact can escalate into direct action. For Mdantsane residents dependent on retail and informal-sector jobs, temporary closures translate quickly into missed wages and household strain.
GroundUp's reporting indicates the affected shop owners cooperated with police and Home Affairs checks. Police involvement in escorting owners for verification suggests the state apparatus engaged to address immediate legality concerns, but workers remain uncertain about when or whether normal trade will resume.
Civic and municipal leaders in Mdantsane, as well as law-enforcement structures, face the challenge of balancing the right to protest with the protection of livelihoods and the rule of law. If business closures persist, not only will individual households be affected, but local economic activity within the Highway centre could suffer, with knock-on effects for suppliers and casual traders who rely on steady foot traffic.
For now, employees and employers are watching for further action by March and March and for clear communication from police, Home Affairs and municipal authorities about safety, legality and the conditions under which shops can reopen without fear. GroundUp reported the immediate exchanges and verification, but the enduring outcome for the businesses and the jobs they provide remains uncertain.
