March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma says supporters will take to the streets every Thursday until the government takes action to remove undocumented foreign nationals from South Africa.
Addressing protesters outside SAPS Point in Durban on Tuesday following a mass march through the city, Ngobese-Zuma said the campaign would continue on a weekly basis until authorities respond to the movement’s demands.
She said the group remains committed to sustained demonstrations, warning that the protests would not be a one-off event but an ongoing action.
Tuesday’s march drew thousands of supporters who travelled through Durban calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. The protest came shortly after the movement’s June 30 deadline for voluntary departure.
Ngobese-Zuma also warned that the continued deployment of large police contingents to monitor demonstrations would place additional financial pressure on the state, referencing the rising cost of public order policing.
She further alleged that drug-related activity in certain communities was linked to undocumented immigration, saying supporters remain concerned about rising levels of crime.
During her address, she claimed that South Africans from diverse cultural and racial backgrounds had united behind the movement’s message, framing it as a national campaign for safety and economic stability.
Ngobese-Zuma said the organisation has spent the past 17 months conducting awareness campaigns across the country, arguing that South Africans are facing rising unemployment, pressure on public services and worsening economic conditions.
She cited youth unemployment levels above 40% and claimed that undocumented foreign nationals were placing additional strain on healthcare, education and other public services.
The movement also alleged that some employers were failing to comply with labour laws governing the employment of foreign nationals, arguing that South Africans are being overlooked for available jobs in several sectors, including retail, agriculture and transport.
Ngobese-Zuma further called for stricter regulation of the township economy, saying it should be reserved for South African citizens, and urged government to strengthen border enforcement and immigration controls.
She proposed increased funding and personnel for the Border Management Authority (BMA), claiming that current capacity levels were insufficient to secure the country’s borders.
Ngobese-Zuma also called for amendments to several pieces of legislation, including immigration-related laws, to expand enforcement powers and enable broader verification of documentation by law enforcement and municipal authorities.
She said the movement supports mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, while also calling for tighter monitoring of police officials’ financial activities to combat corruption within law enforcement.
Despite criticism that the campaign is xenophobic, Ngobese-Zuma rejected the label, insisting that the movement is focused on socio-economic conditions and what she described as the protection of South Africans.
She thanked supporters for participating in Tuesday’s demonstration and urged them to continue engaging in future marches as the campaign intensifies.
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