South Africa: Ngobese-Zuma Vows to March On Businesses Hiring Undocumented Workers

  • March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has called for another march on Thursday, 9 July, escalating pressure over immigration laws.
  • She says President Cyril Ramaphosa has not responded to meeting requests, while meeting two of her own movement's allies instead.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has called for another protest on Thursday, 9 July, and says her movement will now target businesses that employ undocumented foreign nationals.

Ngobese-Zuma made the call on social media on Tuesday, warning that authorities would be taken to workplaces where undocumented immigrants are employed. She did not name specific businesses or sectors.

The march follows weekly Thursday protests Ngobese-Zuma says will continue for six months, longer than the three months she initially gave after the 30 June demonstrations.

Keep up with the latest headlines on WhatsApp | LinkedIn

"Every Thursday, for the next six months we are marching until they are gone," she told supporters in Durban.

March and March was founded by Ngobese-Zuma, a former Vuma FM radio presenter, in March 2025.

The movement organised a nationwide protest on 30 June, an unofficial deadline it set for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa.

Ngobese-Zuma says she has repeatedly asked to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa but has received no response.

She says the Presidency instead met two of her movement's allies, Nkosikhona "Phakel'umthakathi" Ndabandaba and radio personality Ngizwe Mchunu, without informing her or involving her in the discussion.

"We've sent several requests to meet with him, but he has not responded to any of them," she said.

She suggested her Zuma surname may be behind the snub.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said government is not concerned about the planned weekly protests and that law enforcement operations will continue.

Ngobese-Zuma has denied that the movement's campaign is xenophobic.

Critics have raised concerns that the timing of the protests, running up to local government elections in November, points to a political motive behind the movement.

AllAfrica publishes around 600 reports a day from more than 90 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.