The “March and March” anti-immigration movement has ignited a heated political debate, with the governing ANC decrying the campaign as a vehicle for instability while local leaders contend it exposes systemic failures in border control. The movement, which gained prominence through nationwide protests and an informal June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, continues to stage follow-up demonstrations every Thursday.
Government Response And Allegations Of Anarchy
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has publicly condemned the movement, labelling the nationwide “shutdown” protests as acts of anarchy disguised as genuine grievances. Speaking during a recent media briefing, Mbalula accused the organisation’s leaders of attempting to replicate the widespread unrest witnessed in July 2021.
The ANC has labelled the 30th of June protest by March and March movement as anarchy and chaos disguised behind a genuine problem of illegal immigration.
Investigative reports have linked the directors of the entity, registered with the CIPC in August 2025, to the political networks of former President Jacob Zuma. While there is no direct evidence confirming Zuma’s involvement, the movement has intensified pressure on the party following its reduced electoral performance in 2024.
Community Impact And Political Reckoning
The campaign, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has moved beyond demonstrations into community-level enforcement, with supporters claiming they are conducting door-to-door removals of foreign nationals. Some within the ANC ranks have acknowledged that the movement has touched a nerve, forcing the organisation to address long-standing frustrations regarding immigration management.
In many ways, March and March is forcing the ANC to deal with issues it would prefer to sweep under the carpet – but particularly its own culpability when it comes to the tsunami of illegal immigrants which engulfed the country after 1994.
ANC Northern Cape chairperson Dr. Zamani Saul noted that the movement effectively challenges the party’s historical handling of the country’s borders. As protests continue on a weekly basis, the government faces the dual challenge of maintaining public order while responding to growing community demands for stricter immigration enforcement.
Authorities are expected to monitor the Thursday protests closely to prevent any further escalation into violence.