The Durban high court will on Friday hear a case against March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who is accused of inciting unrest. This comes after Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi filed an urgent interdict against Ngobese-Zuma and other respondents. The interdict aims to prevent them from convening, organising, directing, or mobilising marches or protest convoys in affected areas.
The case is related to the "abahambe" (foreigners must leave) campaign by March and March, which has been linked to tensions around the home affairs refugee reception centre on Che Guevara Road. The centre has been a focal point of tensions, with the police minister and provincial commissioner citing intelligence around an alleged threat to burn down the centre and fears of retaliation after the killing of a foreign national in the Durban CBD.
March and March spokesperson Sandile Dube has accused the police minister of using the movement as a "scapegoat for policing failures" and relying on rumours to justify the interdict. Dube dismissed intelligence about a possible arson attack on Durban's home affairs refugee reception centre as false, arguing that members working at the site would have known about such plans.
The interdict also seeks prohibitions on assault and harassment, looting, arson, damage to property, and attacks on home affairs premises. Ngobese-Zuma has vowed to proceed with a march, posting on Facebook: "FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER 2026 🇿🇦🇿🇦 DBN HIGH COURT. After our court appearance… WE WILL MARCH‼️ in a democratic country where people died for us to be liberated, we will never succumb to dictatorship tactics… NEVER."
The case is separate from a similar one against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who faces charges of incitement to commit terrorism and public violence related to her "we see you" social media campaign during the July 2021 riots. Zuma-Sambudla has pleaded not guilty, and her defence team has challenged the credibility of the investigating officer.
The Durban CBD has been on high alert for several months following ongoing anti-migration and xenophobic attacks, which have resulted in 354 deaths and an estimated R50bn in damage. President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the army deployment in the province until the end of November, citing concerns about business closures and uncertainty.
The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign, a coalition of about 190 civic organisations, has welcomed the police legal action, saying it protects both South African citizens and foreign nationals. The campaign has alleged that the refugee reception centre has become a staging point for violent marches and attacks.
Key points
- The Durban high court will hear a case against March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma for allegedly inciting unrest.
- The case is related to the "abahambe" campaign, which has been linked to tensions around the home affairs refugee reception centre.
- The interdict seeks to prevent Ngobese-Zuma and others from convening, organising, or mobilising marches or protest convoys in affected areas.
