Maseru, June 30 — As the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the government beef up security and announce their stance towards today’s protests, South African (SA) anti-immigration activist Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has drawn criticism after appearing to separate her organisation, March and March, from the planned June 30 demonstration.
Ngobese-Zuma said the date was not set by March and March but was instead announced by fellow activist Nkosiikhona Phakel’umthakathi, who had declared it as a deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave SA voluntarily.
She said her organisation’s intention was only to promote a peaceful gathering and prevent possible disorder.
Her remarks have sparked debate on social media, with some users accusing her of shifting her position as concerns grow over possible unrest linked to the planned protest.
The anti-immigration campaign, involving Ngobese-Zuma, Ngizwe Mchunu, the Amabhinca Nation, eZokobho SA, and Zulu cultural activist Nkosikhona Phakel’umthakathi Ndabandaba, had previously called on undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by June 30 or face unspecified consequences.
Ngobese-Zuma explained that the June 30 deadline originated from Phakel’umthakathi and not her organisation.
“The 30th of June was a date announced by Phakel’umthakathi. He presented it as a cut-off date for people who are in the country illegally to leave and return home. When we engaged with the government, we were told that deportation costs a lot of money,” she said.
She added that March and March became associated with the date after discussions around it gained momentum online.
“When we noticed that the date was becoming widely discussed and people were connecting it with March and March, we became concerned and started asking what exactly was happening around June 30,” she said.
Ngobese-Zuma maintained that calls for violence did not come from her organisation, saying the group would attend the gathering to help ensure that it remained peaceful and properly controlled.
“We did not announce June 30. We are simply trying to organise the situation so that people do not act recklessly. If everyone is gathered in one place, we can have a march, with police and security present, and the situation can be managed,” she said.
The South African government has issued assurances that there will be no harm to anyone and warned against unlawful actions.
However, Phakel’umthakathi has been criticised after videos circulated in which he appeared to discourage migrants from relying on government assurances, claiming that activists had greater influence on the ground.
Meanwhile, Ngizwe Mchunu also stated in a video that the country was controlled by the activists rather than the elected government.
Foreigners from African countries have packed their bags and left SA, Lesotho citizens arrived on Monday in the country with the assistance of the government and the business community.
Ends/MP/tl
