A confrontation between police and March and March protesters erupted on Che Guevara Road in Umbilo, Durban, on Tuesday evening. Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters. The clash occurred shortly after 3 pm when members of the movement attempted to march from their makeshift camping site opposite the Department of Home Affairs offices. An interim court order had restricted demonstrations to between 9 am and 3 pm.
The movement's leader, Jacinta Ngobese Zuma, was present at the scene and appeared to intervene as tensions escalated between protesters and police officers. Her husband, Xolani Zuma, was also seen engaging with police in a separate video circulating on social media. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda stated that Public Order Police officers intervened after a group moved away from the gazebos where members had been camping.
According to Netshiunda, the group, mostly carrying sticks and concealing their faces with masks, began marching just after 3 pm. Officers reminded them of the interim court order and the conditions governing demonstrations. However, the situation turned violent when protesters started throwing stones at police officers. The marchers did not have marshals controlling them as required by law.
Police deployed stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, using minimum force to manage the situation and restore public order. Netshiunda reported that no injuries had been reported to police following the confrontation. Police have opened investigations into the possible contravention of the interim court order and the alleged assault of police officers.
The confrontation comes as the government prepares to roll out a digital asylum system aimed at modernizing the processing of asylum applications and refugee services. This development is occurring amid ongoing tensions surrounding the movement's demonstrations outside the Home Affairs offices. Videos on social media show tense exchanges between movement members and police during the incident, including Ngobese Zuma's apparent intervention.
The March and March movement has been involved in several incidents recently. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma was given 180 days to appeal a Facebook suspension. She claimed that immigration issues cost parties votes and blamed election losses for her Facebook suspension. These incidents highlight the ongoing tensions between the movement and authorities.
The situation in Durban remains volatile, with police continuing to manage the situation on the ground. The use of rubber bullets and stun grenades has raised concerns about the policing of protests in South Africa. The March and March movement's protests have been a recurring feature of the country's socio-political landscape, with demands for change and action from the government.
Key points
- Police used rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse March and March protesters in Durban on Tuesday evening.
- The confrontation occurred amid ongoing tensions surrounding the movement's demonstrations outside the Home Affairs offices.
- The government is set to roll out a digital asylum system to modernize asylum application processing.
