The South African Police Service (SAPS) has established a multidisciplinary team of experienced detectives and crime intelligence officers to investigate the murder of March and March Gauteng leader Andile Mvuyiselwa Somgaxa, who died after being shot outside his Johannesburg home earlier this month.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced that the specialised team was appointed in consultation with Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni to lead the investigation into Somgaxa’s killing.
Somgaxa was shot in the driveway of his home in Greenfield, Johannesburg, on 4 July 2026. He was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries on 9 July.
Dimpane condemned the attack, saying police were committed to ensuring those responsible are brought to justice.
“The appointment of a multidisciplinary team underscores the seriousness with which SAPS is treating this matter. We are committed to conducting a thorough investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding this murder and to ensure accountability,” she said.
March and March is a civic movement that has gained prominence through campaigns against illegal immigration, undocumented foreign nationals and crime. The organisation has organised demonstrations and community actions in several provinces, arguing that stronger immigration enforcement is needed. However, some of its activities have drawn criticism from human rights organisations and government officials, who have warned that community groups cannot take the law into their own hands or target individuals based on nationality.
While police have not disclosed a motive for Somgaxa’s killing or identified any suspects, the formation of a specialised investigative team indicates the matter is being treated as a priority.
In a related development, Dimpane welcomed the recent arrest of five suspects in Lephalale, Limpopo, who allegedly posed as officials from the Department of Home Affairs and unlawfully intimidated foreign nationals in Marapong township.
According to SAPS, the suspects allegedly forced a Nigerian national to close his business after falsely claiming that foreign nationals were prohibited from operating businesses in the area. The Department of Home Affairs later verified that the businessman was legally in South Africa and possessed valid documentation to run his business.
Mthombeni also issued a warning to individuals and groups who continue to intimidate, harass or commit acts of violence against foreign nationals, stressing that such conduct is illegal.
Dimpane reiterated that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of authorised state institutions.
“The law applies equally to everyone. No individual or group has the authority to conduct immigration inspections, verify legal status, or remove people from communities. Those responsibilities rest solely with law enforcement agencies and relevant government departments,” she said.
Police have appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation into Somgaxa’s murder to come forward as detectives continue their inquiries.
