‘Hidden money’ behind national shutdown in South Africa

• There is hidden funding behind the national shutdown in South Africa, according to former president Thabo Mbeki.
• The protests against foreign nationals in South Africa have been escalating over the past 12 months, led by groups like March and March, which emerged in early 2025 and has been staging protests across the country since.
• The government has increased security deployments and met with community leaders to try and keep a lid on the demonstrations, but the protest groups have vowed to continue their weekly demonstrations and threaten a 'real shutdown' if their demands are not met.