Social Media Call Ahead of Planned Anti‑Migrant Marches in South Africa
In early March 2025, Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma, identified by some online sources as a founder of the group “March and March,” posted a prayer on her social‑media accounts urging divine intervention for the nation ahead of a series of nationwide demonstrations calling for the removal of undocumented foreigners. The post, which was highlighted by the South African news outlet TimesLIVE, reportedly garnered more than 1,000 comments within an hour of being shared.
Content of the Post
The message read:
“God of mercy, to you we pray for our country,”
Accompanying the prayer, Ngobese‑Zuma warned participants against looting or violence, stating:
“Anyone who loots or commits violence today [Monday] or tomorrow [Tuesday] – please can the police arrest and detain her. Please don’t embarrass us. We are waging a serious battle against La Nina Nize Ngokzomosha. Asidlali la, this is the future of the entire country.”
She also pointed to three urban areas — Point in Durban, Hillbrow in Johannesburg, and Sunnyside in Pretoria — as the intended endpoints of the marches, describing them as “drug‑crime hotspots.”
Background on the Alleged Organisers
Independent verification of an organisation named “March and March” is limited. Searches of South African corporate registries, the Department of Social Development’s NPO database, and major news archives do not return a registered entity by that exact name. Some analysts suggest the name may be used informally by a loose network of activists rather than a formal NGO.
Nevertheless, Ngobese‑Zuma’s online presence has been linked in several local reports to anti‑immigrant rhetoric. In a 2024 interview with the Mail & Guardian, she described herself as a “community advocate” concerned about perceived pressures on public services.
Planned Demonstrations and Security Preparations
According to the TimesLIVE report, the marches were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday of the first week of March 2025, with participants intending to converge on the three cited locations. In response, the South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a statement noting heightened patrols and readiness to intervene should public order be threatened.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said:
“We are monitoring social‑media chatter and have deployed additional units to the identified hotspot areas. Our priority is to protect lives and property while upholding the constitutional right to peaceful assembly.”
Broader Context of Xenophobia in South Africa
Calls for the expulsion of undocumented migrants are not new in South Africa. The country hosts an estimated 4.2 million international migrants (UN DESA, 2023), representing roughly 7 % of the total population. Periodic spikes in xenophobic sentiment have been documented by multiple watchdog organisations.
- The Human Rights Watch reported over 250 incidents of xenophobic violence in 2022, ranging from looting to physical assaults.
- The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) noted a 15 % increase in reported xenophobic attacks between 2021 and 2022, linking the trend to economic stress and perceived job competition.
- The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has repeatedly urged the government to address hate speech and improve community‑integration programmes.
These reports underscore that while the right to protest is constitutionally protected, demonstrations that target specific ethnic or national groups can quickly escalate into violence if not carefully managed.
Official and Civil‑Society Responses
Following the social‑media post, several civil‑society groups issued statements urging restraint.
- The South African Human Rights Commission called on authorities to investigate any incitement to violence and reminded the public that hate speech is prohibited under the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA).
- The UNHCR South Africa office emphasized the contributions of refugees and migrants to the economy and urged dialogue rather than confrontation.
- Local faith leaders, including representatives from the South African Council of Churches, echoed Ngobese‑Zuma’s prayer tone but urged prayers for unity and compassion rather than exclusion.
Conclusion
The episode highlights the powerful role that social media can play in shaping public discourse around migration in South Africa. While the exact origins and organisational structure of “March and March” remain unclear, the incident reflects broader societal tensions that have periodically erupted into xenophobic violence. Authorities, NGOs, and community leaders continue to stress the importance of peaceful expression, accurate information
