“I Am Not Scared of White People”: March and March Leader Defends AfriForum Alliance

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“I Am Not Scared of White People”: March and March Leader Defends AfriForum Alliance Amid Backlash

Editorial Analysis: Sona Headlines Political Desk  
  Focus: Racial Politics, Civil Movements & Xenophobia Trials  
  Published: August 24, 2026

Editorial Overview: March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has delivered a fiery defense of her controversial engagement with AfriForum, explicitly telling critics that she will not allow South Africa’s painful racial history to dictate her movement's strategic alliances. Speaking outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court, where her supporters gathered to back a local mayor facing xenophobia charges, she asserted a hyper-pragmatic approach to politics: learning from anyone who can help uplift struggling communities.

In the volatile arena of South African grassroots politics, alliances are often strictly policed by historical racial divides. But Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the outspoken leader of the anti-illegal migration movement March and March, is actively tearing up that script. Facing intense political blowback for a recent meeting with the Afrikaner interest group AfriForum, she hit back with a striking rejection of racial intimidation.

UNAPOLOGETIC PRAGMATISM: March and March supporters gathered outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court. Leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma stated that the movement's engagement with AfriForum is strictly about replicating successful community development programs in townships.

The controversy unfolded against the tense backdrop of a major legal battle at the Pietermaritzburg High Court, where Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality Mayor Mduduzi Sobholenyoni Myeza is fighting interdicts related to alleged xenophobic actions. As the movement straddles the line between radical local protectionism and unlikely cross-cultural alliances, its trajectory offers a raw look at the shifting rules of SA politics.

The Statement AfriForum Meeting The Court Battle The Verdict

“I Am Not That Typical Black Person”

Speaking outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court, Ngobese-Zuma addressed the elephant in the room: the deep-seated political taboo of a black grassroots movement openly collaborating with AfriForum.

Ngobese-Zuma firmly stated that she would not allow politicians to weaponize the fear and mistrust created by apartheid to attack her movement's strategic decisions. She positioned her confidence as a product of her upbringing and early resistance.

A History of Challenging the Status Quo “I am not that typical black person who is scared of white people. I grew up with whites and went to school with them,” she declared. She recalled fighting early battles for linguistic equality: “I openly challenged my principal and other teachers on why we shouldn’t have a prayer in isiZulu? I won that challenge.”

Calling Out Political Hypocrisy Addressing the fierce criticism from established political factions regarding the AfriForum meeting, she noted: “Politicians have said many negative things about our meeting with AfriForum and their quick reaction. I wish they could use it to improve the lives of our poor communities.”

The AfriForum Agenda: Programs, Not Politics

Ngobese-Zuma was quick to clarify the boundaries of the engagement. The meeting was not an ideological merger, but a tactical mission to extract actionable community development models.

March and March leaders insist that their engagement with AfriForum was strictly about learning how to successfully deploy self-reliance and community protection programs in neglected townships and rural areas.

Ignoring Ideological Debates “Those who want to talk about land and genocide, they must go and do that with AfriForum. This is not our focus,” she clarified bluntly. “Our focus is for AfriForum to share what they do to develop and protect their communities. We want those programmes to assist our people.”

The Xenophobia Showdown in Court

The backdrop to these statements was a high-stakes legal battle involving an embattled local mayor accused of leading aggressive anti-immigrant campaigns.

March and March supporters had mobilized at the Pietermaritzburg High Court to back Inkosi Langalibalele Mayor Mduduzi Sobholenyoni Myeza. The mayor is currently fighting legal action brought against him by foreign nationals and the advocacy group Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia.

Shop Raids and Social Media Bans The court case stems from Myeza’s alleged involvement in anti-immigrant social media posts, localized shop raids, and demands for undocumented foreign nationals to leave Estcourt. Myeza maintains that his actions were strictly part of carrying out his official duties as mayor.

Interdict Extended Indefinitely The court previously issued an interim order restricting Myeza’s social media posts and barring his entry into foreign-owned shops. On Friday, the court extended these restrictions indefinitely while it waits for full arguments to be heard in the case.

SONA EDITORIAL VERDICT

The New Rules of Radical Pragmatism

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s unapologetic stance outside the Pietermaritzburg High Court captures a fascinating, and highly controversial, evolution in South African civil politics. By publicly declaring that she does not fear white people and dismissing the historical baggage attached to AfriForum, she is attempting to pioneer a hyper-pragmatic brand of activism—one that prioritizes immediate, tangible community models over rigid, historical party lines.

However, the juxtaposition of her statements is impossible to ignore. March and March is demanding the freedom to cross racial and ideological lines to learn community building from AfriForum, while simultaneously mobilizing to defend a mayor accused of hostile, xenophobic crackdowns on foreign nationals.

This highlights the complex, often contradictory nature of modern populist movements in South Africa. They demand local protectionism and self-determination, and they are increasingly willing to partner with anyone—even historical ideological opponents—to achieve it. For mainstream politicians relying on old narratives of racial fear to keep voters in line, Ngobese-Zuma's defiance is a stark warning that the rules of engagement on the ground are rapidly changing.

@ Sona Headlines | Politics & Social Justice Desk

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