By Nokwanda Ncwane
Anti-illegal immigration group March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma says it is “high time” for Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to fetch their citizens from South Africa.
Ngobese-Zuma made the remarks while addressing March and March members who participated in a protest from Durban City Hall to Victoria Park, opposite the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC), where the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit was being held. Protesters carried placards reading “Fetch your people” and “South Africa is not a dumpsite” while chanting slogans against illegal immigration.
The former radio presenter criticised the presence of foreign nationals in South Africa, claiming that some economic migrants from East and West Africa identify as refugees or asylum seekers despite travelling through other countries before reaching South Africa.
“They keep telling us that they were there for us during apartheid, but what did Pakistan and Somalia do for us? How many countries do you skip before you reach South Africa? Our government is sleeping and does not care about us.”
“We got freedom from the oppression by Afrikaners during apartheid and now we’re being oppressed by illegal immigrants,” she said.
Ngobese-Zuma also accused the government of failing to protect South Africans, claiming that members of March and March had been targeted and killed without sufficient government response.
She alleged that the government would respond differently if foreign nationals were the victims.
“They simply don’t care about us. However, since we’re heading to elections, they will pretend they care and bring up this issue,” she added.
Her comments came as SADC leaders met in Durban to discuss regional priorities, with migration among the issues raised during the summit.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said during his closing address that SADC leaders had discussed the impact of migration on the region behind closed doors.
Ramaphosa said the leaders recognised that migration was a complex challenge that required greater regional cooperation, cohesion and unity.
South Africa has faced growing pressure over undocumented migration, with groups such as March and March calling for stricter immigration enforcement and the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
The protests have also drawn criticism and concern from human rights organisations, which have warned against xenophobia and the targeting of foreign nationals and refugees.
