DEMONSTRATORS who answered the call by the March In March Movement to march against illegal immigration took to the streets of Durban last month in a move that will now be replicated across all nine provinces in South Africa next month.
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO/Independent Newspapers
THE anti-illegal immigration movement, March In March, which culminated in a march across Durban streets last month, is gaining momentum and spreading across all nine provinces of South Africa.
The movement, a brainchild of award-winning radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, held a demonstration that ended at the City Hall on March 24.
Ngobese-Zuma said they considered their march a success as they had no mobilisation support and funding for branding and organising the march.
And now they've planned multiple marches across the provinces on the same day next month.
"Basically what we are asking for from the march, the most important thing is proper border control because our borders are wide open, which means anyone can come and go as they please.
"There's no regulation. On top of that, there are people who are getting money from that; they are making people pay to get in, whether they have passports or not.
"We also ask for the police to be stricter when it comes to enforcing the law when it comes to illegal immigrants. We want them to send them to the Department of Home Affairs and deport them. We don't want negotiations," said Ngobese-Zuma.
FOUNDER of the March In March Movement, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, says they will not be deterred by threats in speaking out against illegal immigration and corruption at Home Affairs which contribute to the high levels of crime in the country
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO/Independent Newspapers
Ngobese-Zuma said that it's clear that South Africa is overcrowded with undocumented foreigners, which puts a strain on the country's services and infrastructure.
She also said their march urged local municipalities to take back hijacked buildings because they also contribute to increasing the crime rate.
She said public facilities like schools, hospitals, the grant system and businesses, especially the tuck shop business, must prioritise South Africans.
"South Africans must be put first in South Africa. It doesn't make sense to try and save the whole of Africa; it's impossible. There are millions of people across Africa; how are we going to accommodate all of them without losing ourselves? We can't have a South Africa for everyone and anyone," said Ngobese-Zuma.
She claimed that there are South Africans who are scared to approach the courts because they seem to favour foreigners, and they are now urging the justice system to prioritise South Africans to play its part, as there are laws that are not being enforced on illegal immigration.
She called for the Home Affairs Department to be overhauled, as there's rampant corruption, and it's compromising the entire country.
"We are also calling out and calling on the president to say something about the state of affairs in the country, but more than anything, we can't take in more immigrants, illegal immigrants at that, which is even worse.
"South Africa is dying. Our VAT (value added tax) is said to be increasing because we are trying to take care of everybody with the little money that we work for.
"We know we have a government that honestly doesn't even care to listen to what people have to say. But we, the people, are going to fight for what is ours, which is a better future for ourselves and our children.
"We can't walk around scared in our environments that if we speak out, we are going to be targeted or killed or anything like that," said Ngobese-Zuma.
She said they are really curious about the NGOs that fight for the rights of illegal immigrants and what they do for the good of the country.
The radio personality has faced threats on her social media accounts based on her anti-illegal immigration stance but has vowed not to be deterred by the threats and those who mock and try to sabotage her campaign.
Some political parties, like ActionSA, and other civic organisations, like Operation Dudula, Defend Democracy and others, supported her March 24 campaign.
The next anti-illegal immigration march aimed at highlighting porous borders, fraud and corruption at Home Affairs, is scheduled for May 2, across the country.
