Jacinta Ngobese Zuma of March and March is calling on South Africans to take to the streets of Durban on Wednesday
Image: Nomonde Zondi
A controversial citizen-led movement is set to take to the streets of Durban on Wednesday, shining a spotlight on illegal immigration. March and March, founded by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, will stage a high-profile protest to raise awareness about the growing impact of undocumented foreigners. The demonstration coincides with the group’s one-year anniversary.
The march is expected to start at 9 am from King Dinizulu Park and move through the city centre.
Metro Police spokesperson Colonel Boysie Zungu, confirmed that permission has been granted for the march on Wednesday.
Organisers of March and March have called on unemployed youth, lecturers, teachers, doctors and professionals; tuck shop owners, street vendors and sellers, salon owners and retailers; fashion designers, factory workers or security guards, restaurant workers and truck drivers to join the march.
"Foreigners have taken over and are dominating everywhere while they claim to be here as refugees! Our country cannot survive this invasion, it's time to ACT NOW," according to March and March.
Ngobese-Zuma, said the motivation for forming the movement was the influx of illegal immigrants and foreign nationals "doing as they please, especially related to crime. It is time for us to do something.”
"Our fight is against illegal immigrants. There is a thin line between illegal immigrants and foreigners. Many are in the country fraudulently, are involved in fraudulent activities and pretend to be doing something," said Ngobese-Zuma.
She said there were millions of illegal immigrants.
"The figures of 15 to 30 million has been disputed from different researchers," said Ngobese-Zuma.
Ngobese-Zuma said from their on-the- ground work, they have found that a majority of foreigners have fake documents, while some have just passports, yet they live and work in the country.
"Unfortunately the problem is at our borders. Having a passport does not make it legal for a person to work in the country. Police need to be educated about what a valid and fake visa looks like and that a passport is only a travel document. It does not allow a person to stay indefinitely and work," she said.
She claimed that there are a number of illegal foreign nationals thriving as criminals in drugs, kidnappings, heists and robberies while operating businesses that compete unfairly with local entrepreneurs.
"Our biggest challenge is the lack of willingness from police and government. South African children don't have place at schools because it is full of foreigners, the same as our hospitals."
Ngobese-Zuma said unemployed people in sectors dominated by foreigners should join the march as the Department of Labour has been invited to the march to receive a memorandum.
"We intend handing over a memorandum to police, labour department, eThekwini Municipality and the Premier's office," she said.
Ngobese-Zuma said they want to express their tiredness at government's lack of urgency regarding the issue of illegal foreigners.
"The foreigners love coming to SA because the laws are so easy. They can open stores, salons and tuck shops so easily. Yet there is a lack of compliance," she said.
A woman working at an organisation that assists documented refugees and asylum seekers expressed concern over the movement's intentions.
She questioned why access to healthcare was restricted, saying it appeared not to matter whether individuals have legal documentation or were in the country lawfully.
"There are cases we see in Durban where some have experienced serious trauma and were forced to flee their own country, and then to come to this country and experience secondary abuse. We can only hope that the march doesn't turn violent" she said.