Xenophobia: Meet the Zulu Woman Behind South Africa’s Rising Anti-Migrant Protests.
A former radio presenter has emerged as one of the most recognizable faces in South Africa’s growing anti-immigrant movement. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the founder and leader of the March and March movement, has organized mass demonstrations across the country, with her actions drawing both praise from supporters and condemnation from critics who accuse her of stoking xenophobic violence.
Ngobese-Zuma, who founded March and March in March 2025, has led protests targeting communities with high immigrant populations, including citizens from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. She claims that foreign nationals operating kiosks, cafeterias, garages, pharmacies, and hawking businesses have taken opportunities that belong to South Africans.
The movement has vowed to hold protests every Thursday for the next six months, putting pressure on the government to address undocumented immigration. “Every Thursday, for the next six months we are marching until they are gone,” Ngobese-Zuma told supporters in Durban.
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She has demanded that the government increase the budget for the Border Management Authority and recruit more border officials, claiming the country needs about 10,000 officials to secure its borders . The movement’s demands come as South Africa grapples with high unemployment and economic challenges that critics say are being wrongly blamed on immigrants.
Violence and Controversy
The demonstrations have never remained peaceful. Reports indicate that anti-immigrant protests inspired by the movement have turned violent, with people forced from their homes, houses burned, and immigrant-owned shops looted . At least two people were killed in Mossel Bay during anti-immigrant protests .
In one widely discussed incident in Durban, a Zimbabwean woman selling boiled eggs was reportedly shot dead after a dispute over payment. According to accounts, a Zulu man refused to pay 50 rand after eating five eggs, and when the woman complained, he shot her twice in the head. The case has become a symbol of the extreme violence that can erupt when tensions over immigration and economic competition boil over.
There have also been videos of vigilante groups blocking access to healthcare facilities, demanding that patients show identity documents before receiving treatment . Refugee organizations have raised concerns that documented refugees are being denied access to medical services due to their nationality.
Growing Opposition to the Movement
Critics have accused Ngobese-Zuma of spreading misinformation and using divisive rhetoric. A recent analysis of claims made by the March and March leader found that many of her statements do not match the available evidence .
She has claimed that immigrants are disproportionately involved in crime, but evidence shows that the vast majority of immigrants in prisons – about 65% – are there only for breaking immigration laws, not for serious crimes . She has also claimed that immigrants are “invading” South Africa, yet immigrants make up only about 5% of the country’s population – a lower proportion than in many other developed nations .
The Department of Basic Education has debunked claims that foreign learners are placing undue pressure on the education system. Foreign students make up just 1.8% of learners in South African schools.
The movement has been linked to several political parties ahead of upcoming local government elections. Ngobese-Zuma has held meetings with representatives from ActionSA, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, the Patriotic Alliance, and the Inkatha Freedom Party.
The MK Party has publicly supported March and March’s stance against illegal immigration, and some party members have participated in demonstrations alongside the movement’s leader . ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has reportedly expressed interest in having Ngobese-Zuma as a mayoral candidate in eThekwini.
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However, Ngobese-Zuma insists the movement is not aligned with any political party. “The movement does not receive funding from any political party, that includes the MKP,” she told media outlets.
As tensions rise, many South Africans have taken to social media to question the logic behind targeting foreign nationals. “Why can’t you just also pick a few clothes, watches, eggs, or shoes and start hawking?” one user asked. Others have questioned why Ngobese-Zuma does not simply encourage her followers to boycott products sold by African foreigners rather than resorting to looting and violence.
A coalition of organizations calling itself the Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign has emerged to counter the anti-immigrant narrative. The group brings together more than 120 organizations committed to opposing xenophobia and ethnic politics.
The South African government has taken steps to address immigration enforcement, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing increased efforts to tackle illegal immigration . However, Ngobese-Zuma has criticized the government’s response, claiming that her requests to meet with the president have gone unanswered .
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said the government is not concerned about the planned weekly protests and that law enforcement operations will continue. Security officials have been deployed to monitor demonstrations and prevent violence.
With local government elections scheduled for November, the debate over immigration is likely to intensify. The March and March movement has promised to continue its weekly demonstrations, while opposition groups are organizing to counter what they see as rising xenophobia.
The question of whether Ngobese-Zuma and her followers are expressing legitimate concerns about immigration enforcement or engaging in xenophobic incitement continues to divide South Africans. What is clear is that the movement has tapped into deep frustrations in communities where many feel abandoned by the state and left to compete for scarce resources.
Xenophobia: Meet the Zulu Woman Behind South Africa’s Rising Anti-Migrant Protests.
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