Hundreds of protesters led by South African political and labor groups demonstrated outside the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, condemning U.S. imperialism and illegal actions against Venezuela, and demanding the immediate release of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

CAPE TOWN, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- An anti-imperialist demonstration was held outside the Consulate General of the U.S. in South Africa's Cape Town on Thursday to protest the U.S. invasion of Venezuela and call for the immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Around midday Thursday, hundreds of protesters gathered along Reddam Street in front of the U.S. Consulate, carrying banners reading "Hands off Venezuela" and "Stop Imperialism" while chanting slogans in solidarity with Venezuela and against U.S. hegemony.

The protest was led by the African National Congress (ANC), the South African Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African National Civic Organization and several other organizations.

In a jointly signed memorandum delivered to the U.S. Consulate, the groups said the actions against Venezuela "constitute a criminal and flagrant violation of Articles 1 and 2 of the United Nations Charter," which uphold national sovereignty, the legal equality of states and the prohibition on the use of force. They demanded a formal response from the U.S. government within two weeks of receipt.

"Venezuela, its government, and its people have the sovereign right to pursue their chosen political, economic, and social path without coercion, threats, or external interference," they stated. "The U.S. has no right to police, invade, or wage undeclared war against independent nations under the guise of 'security' or 'counter-narcotics.'"

At the protest, Barry Mitchell, a member of the SACP's Central Committee, told Xinhua that the demonstration was aimed at condemning U.S. imperialism, in particular its action against Venezuela and the capture of its head of state.

"We're condemning American imperialism, acts against country sovereignty, and of course the increasing levels of war and violence across the developing world," he said, stressing the importance of a country's right to develop and strengthen sovereignty.

Malvern du Bruyn, COSATU provincial secretary, said that the U.S. action was a breach of international law with the sole objective of seizing resources in Venezuela. The protest, he said, was meant to express African people's anger over the U.S. move.

Du Bruyn reiterated calls for the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, urging Washington to return them "unharmed without delay."

He warned that allowing the detention of a sitting head of state would set a dangerous precedent, and stressed the need for unity across the Global South in resisting what he described as U.S. imperialism.

"The question that remains is: who is next?" he said.

"We need unity from the Global South," he noted, adding that proper engagement is essential.

Thando Dedezane, an ANC provincial leader, said U.S. behavior had become increasingly aggressive, likening it to being "on steroids." The detention of Maduro, he argued, was not an isolated act but a signal of broader attempts to "reshape the global order."

Dedezane also called attention to what he described as recent U.S. imperialist threats against Greenland, warning that smaller countries could face similar pressure. The United States, he said, was seeking to establish a presence at strategic locations to counter perceived threats to its dominance.

Echoing Du Bruyn, Dedezane called for continent-wide and global solidarity. "We need to stand up collectively -- continentally and globally -- with a united front if we are to win this battle," he said.