Jonny Steinberg Names Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma as Potential Right-Wing Leader:

“A New Black Right-Wing Leader?” Jonny Steinberg Says Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma Could Lead a New Political Era in SA

Byline: Kabous Le Roux | Political Desk  
  Focus: Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, Black Right-Wing Politics & South Africa  
  Updated: September 2, 2026

THE BIG STORY: Political scholar Jonny Steinberg believes Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma could emerge as a powerful figure in a new Black right-wing movement in South Africa, signalling a dramatic shift away from traditional liberation-era political loyalties.

Could Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma become the face of a new era in South African politics? Political scholar and writer Jonny Steinberg believes the rising political figure has the potential to lead a new Black right-wing movement—one increasingly detached from the traditional political narratives of the liberation struggle.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's strategic cooperation with conservative groups marks a fundamental shift in South African grassroots activism.

Steinberg's assessment follows his analysis of Ngobese-Zuma's controversial involvement with the March on March movement and its cooperation with AfriForum. He argues that the alliance reflects a broader change in how some Black South Africans view politics, identity and the country's post-liberation political order.

Breaking Ties The Leader AfriForum Pact Verdict

A Break With the Liberation Narrative

For the first time since the dawn of democracy, a significant proportion of the Black population is responding to political narratives completely delinked from the liberation struggle.

Steinberg traces what he views as a critical paradigm shift back to 2017. He recalled speaking to a group of Black working-class South Africans in Tembisa shortly after Donald Trump came to office in the United States. The reaction around the table deeply surprised him.

Rather than condemnation, there was palpable excitement and curiosity about Trump's election. Steinberg noted that people were identifying with the idea that citizens elsewhere also fiercely wanted to keep foreigners out of their communities.

A Turning Point in Identity "I pricked up my ears. I thought that was a turning point," Steinberg said. The conversation suggested that some Black South Africans were beginning to look abroad, identifying with conservative, nationalist movements they hadn't resonated with before.

He believes the time may now be ripe for “a genuinely right-wing populist movement” among Black South Africans, mirroring similar movements that have swept across Europe, America, and Latin America. The March on March campaign, with its hardline stance on community borders and foreign nationals, is a direct manifestation of this shift.

Why Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma Stands Out

While March on March remains a relatively new and "incoherent" force, its breakout star possesses unique political capital.

Ngobese-Zuma serves as part of the collective leadership of March on March. Steinberg noted that while she was excluded from certain high-level de-escalation meetings involving the presidency—aimed at reducing the likelihood of violence over the movement's demands concerning foreign nationals—she remains the movement's most compelling figure.

“She is young. She is eloquent, cosmopolitan,” Steinberg observed, adding that she is uniquely capable of speaking to an audience far beyond her base in KwaZulu-Natal.

A New Political Language “There’s a vibe to her and a sense in the language that she uses which is quite different to others,” Steinberg said. He believes that if the movement does solidify into a legitimate national force, it will be with her at the helm, drawing parallels between her charisma and that of new right-wing leaders globally.

The Afrikaner Nationalism Connection

Translating civil society momentum into lasting political power requires strategy, and Ngobese-Zuma is looking to unlikely historical blueprints.

Steinberg pointed out that the transition from a successful grassroots campaign to an established political party is “absolutely massive.” This harsh reality may explain why Ngobese-Zuma has not rushed to join the MK Party or establish her own formal political entity just yet.

Instead, she appears to be drawing inspiration from one of the oldest political traditions in South African history: Afrikaner nationalism. Steinberg described how the Afrikaner movement historically fought for its people through a relentless combination of “very, very robust lawfare and a lot of self-help,” principles now championed by AfriForum.

Transactional Politics Drawing inspiration from Afrikaner organizations is highly risky. “A whole lot of her potential constituents could say, ‘Why should we learn from Afrikaners?’” Steinberg warned. However, in an era of deep political cynicism, voters are becoming highly transactional—caring less about historical grievances and more about whether an alliance is immediately useful.

This pragmatic approach proves that a growing segment of the population feels increasingly free of what Steinberg termed the “old shibboleths and sacred cows of the liberation movement.”

MHEPO VERDICT

Working From a Blank Slate

Whether Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma will ultimately succeed in consolidating this fractured populist energy into a formidable political machine remains to be seen. As Steinberg readily admits, "It's hard." Yet, her ability to intuitively sense and articulate the changing, often controversial political attitudes of working-class South Africans cannot be ignored.

Her willingness to forge an alliance with AfriForum signals a total disregard for the unwritten rules of post-apartheid politics. She is proving that she is working from a blank slate, doing something entirely new in Black politics. Whether South Africa is ready for this brand of right-wing populism is the question that will define the next election cycle.

© Mhepo News | Politics & Opinion Desk

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