A march by hundreds of members and supporters of the anti-immigrant vigilante group March and March in central Durban turned violent, with at least one man assaulted. The march was billed as part of a national day of action against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. However, it was clear that many attendees were also there to protest issues surrounding immigration. Leaders shouted "Abahambe" and some held up posters with the same slogan.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Tuesday night, pledging more resources to fight GBV in the coming mid-term budget. He allocated resources to strengthen the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences units, with more resources to be allocated in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. The president promised a consolidated report within 90 days, with public progress reports every quarter thereafter.
Chandra Gould of the Institute for Security Services stated that claims linking GBV to immigration are not evidence-based. "There is absolutely nothing that tells us that people from other countries are more likely than South Africans to commit GBV," she said. Yeshelen Govender from activist group Siyafana Sonke criticized March and March for weaponizing GBV and femicide to support their narrative.
Govender also accused March and March of hypocrisy, citing the level of violence migrant women have been subjected to by members of these groups. The protesters carrying weapons went to immigrant-run shops and threatened people, causing many to close for the day. A group of protesters assaulted a man who was standing outside his apartment on Point Road, mistaking him for an immigrant.
The march was joined by members of political parties such as MKP, ActionSA, and IFP. Xolani Zuma, the husband of March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, stated that people attended the march to bring attention to GBV and the killing of women in South Africa. However, Theresa Nortje, another March and March member, suggested that the R600-million spent on police and security services for a previous march should have been put into fighting GBV.
In other parts of the country, smaller marches took place. About 25 people marched to the Western Cape legislature, joined by members of Operation Dudula and the One Love Alliance political party. They shouted "voetsek foreigner" and "go home" as they passed the Grand Parade in Cape Town. March and March Western Cape's Thenjiswa Khowa stated that they were responding to a call to stand against GBV.
The marches were not without controversy, with some questioning the statistics presented by March and March. Despite evidence showing immigrants are less likely to commit crime, some protesters remained skeptical. The marches highlighted the complex and contentious nature of the debate around GBV and immigration in South Africa.
Key points
- Activists criticize March and March for linking GBV to immigration
- March and March protests turn violent in Durban
- President Ramaphosa pledges more resources to fight GBV
