News24 editors have accused March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her movement of contributing to an environment in which immigrants face violence, arguing that their actions contradict the group’s stated position that it is concerned only about undocumented foreign nationals.
In a strongly worded editorial published on Saturday, 10 October, the publication criticised the movement’s approach to immigration, warning that its impact extends beyond people who are in South Africa unlawfully.
“Their actions have directly led to the assault and murder of immigrants, some undocumented and some legally here,” the editors wrote.
The editorial argued that although Ngobese-Zuma maintains that her campaign is directed at undocumented immigration, the conduct of the movement and some of its followers raises questions about that position.
The criticism comes amid heightened tensions surrounding anti-immigration protests in Durban and Soweto, following a Constitutional Court ruling concerning the treatment of asylum seekers by the Department of Home Affairs.
News24’s editors argued that South Africa’s constitutional protections extend to everyone living in the country, regardless of race, religion, culture or other background.
The editorial also raised concerns about what it described as an expansion of the movement’s targets, saying its criticism had extended beyond undocumented foreign nationals to politicians, judges and journalists.
The publication further accused Ngobese-Zuma of spreading misinformation on social media following the court ruling, which it said contributed to chaotic scenes in Durban and Soweto. These are allegations made in the editorial.
The remarks reflect a broader dispute over how South Africa should address undocumented immigration while protecting the rights and safety of foreign nationals, including those who are legally in the country or seeking asylum.
While calls for stronger immigration enforcement remain part of the national debate, the editorial’s central argument is that opposition to undocumented immigration cannot be separated from the consequences of rhetoric and actions that may place foreign nationals at risk.
The passage forms part of News24’s editorial, titled “Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma is a threat to democracy. She must be stopped.”.
