"Ramaphosa Does Not Speak For Us": March and March Leader Slams President Over ‘Shameful’ Migration Comments
The battle lines over South Africa's migration policy were drawn sharply in Durban this Monday. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the firebrand leader of the March and March Movement, has launched a scathing rebuttal against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent assertions that South Africans are "ashamed" of the treatment of foreign nationals.
Ngobese-Zuma, speaking outside the 46th SADC Summit, accused the President of being more concerned with protecting his international business interests and regional allies—specifically naming Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mozambique’s Daniel Chapo—than the welfare of South African citizens struggling for resources in their own backyards.
"He is Not Speaking for Us": Reclaiming the Narrative
Ngobese-Zuma’s response was a direct reaction to Ramaphosa’s public lecture at UKZN’s Westville campus, where he expressed "deep concern" over anti-migrant discrimination. The movement leader was blunt: Ramaphosa only feels "ashamed" when he has to visit countries where he holds mining interests.
"We have no government here, but puppets. Things that can make sure that if I come with money today, they give me all I want. They don't think about the future of their children," Ngobese-Zuma stated, accusing leaders of selling out the country's future.
Rejecting the "xenophobia" label, the movement argued that the real shame lies in the influx of undocumented migrants who "rip the country of all it has" before returning to their home nations once resources are depleted.
The Addington Primary Conflict
One of the most potent arguments raised by Ngobese-Zuma was the displacement of South African children in the local education system, specifically citing Durban’s Addington Primary School.
"Have you ever heard President Ramaphosa saying he is ashamed that South African kids have no learning space at Addington but children of foreign nationals are admitted?" the leader challenged, framing the issue as a competition for limited state resources.
The SADC Hit-List: Mnangagwa & Chapo
The March and March Movement did not just protest the South African government; they took their grievances directly to the heads of state attending the 46th SADC Summit.
Ngobese-Zuma issued a direct warning to Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa and Mozambique's Daniel Chapo, accusing their citizens of causing "problems" in South Africa, particularly in Johannesburg.
Deadline Set: "Prepare for mass deportation of all undocumented foreign nationals by September 30. We want a government that listens to its people, not one doing window dressing."
Strategic Pivot: Emulating AfriForum
In a tactical shift, Ngobese-Zuma announced that the movement is moving toward a self-reliance model inspired by the efficiency of AfriForum. This includes the recent launch of the South Africa First Forum.
"We are going to learn from AfriForum. They build universities, they prosecute, they solve cases. That is the model we want for black South Africans—to solve things for ourselves when the state fails," she explained.
The Verdict: The End of the "Shame" Narrative
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma’s Durban protest signals a definitive break from the traditional "xenophobia" discourse. By rejecting President Ramaphosa's claims of national shame, the movement is attempting to normalize the demand for resource prioritization and mass deportation.
The pivot toward emulating AfriForum’s self-reliance model suggests that March and March is preparing for a long-term, structural challenge to the state's migration management. Whether the September 30 deadline triggers the "increased intensity" promised remains to be seen, but the message to SADC is clear: regional leaders are now being held personally responsible by South African activists for the economic exodus of their citizens.
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