Zulu regiment chief coordinator Sipho Mhlongo addressing traditional leaders in Durban on Friday, where he emphasised that March and March protest against illegal immigrants should be peaceful.
Image: Sibonelo Ngcobo / ANA Studio
Leaders of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s regiments across KwaZulu-Natal have expressed a united voice, calling for peace during the much-anticipated March and March protests against illegal foreign nationals, even if protestors are provoked.
Zulu regiment chief coordinator Sipho Mhlongo met with his subordinates on behalf of the King in Durban on Friday ahead of a nationwide protest scheduled for Tuesday.
The protest will take place while thousands of foreign nationals have already left the country, fearing threats of being attacked.
The King has assigned coordinators to each district to ensure peaceful participation in the protests.
Mhlongo instructed coordinators to relay the King’s message that attacking foreign nationals and looting would tarnish the Zulu nation's reputation globally.
“We commend the King for protecting the dignity of his nation by not wanting to see blood spillage and involving the Zulus in the embarrassing events,” said Mhlongo.
Mhlongo said the King will not stop people from marching against illegal foreigners.
“The King says people who are in the country illegally must go back to their home countries because there is no one who is without a home.
“But he is requesting members of the Zulu nation to desist from harming foreigners by beating them and looting; therefore, you must deliver this message to your communities.”
He said the King does not want a situation where foreigners would be unable to leave the country because protestors have brought the country, including transport, to a standstill.
“Let us allow them to go back to their countries in peace. The King has made it clear that everyone has a home, and when the time comes for someone to return, they must do so because the province is overpopulated and we need space,” he said.
Mhlongo said the protestors must guard against criminals, who would use the legitimate action to achieve their wrong goals.
“The criminals would ruin this whole protest by killing people and looting the shops. In 2021, we experienced the burning down of shops and looting that created hunger.
“After the 2021 protests, people would travel from Nongoma to buy bread in Ulundi (about 56km), which was spared from the looting,” said Mhlongo.
He said the King’s message is not debatable.
“Once the King has spoken, he should be respected.”
He said the King was concerned that if illegal foreigners were attacked, they would go home to attack South Africans based in their countries.
“These individuals can be dangerous in their home countries; therefore, we must not harm them here, but they must leave,” said Mhlongo.
He said the protests support Premier Thami Ntuli’s anti-illegal immigrant campaign called “Engangeni ngesango iyafohla”, which could loosely translate to “The one who came into the country illegally is an intruder”.
“Since 2024, Ntuli has been engaged in this campaign by visiting factories to remove employed illegal foreigners.
“From the time he took over, Ntuli said illegal immigrants must leave the country, and his campaign is continuing. But in a meeting we had with him yesterday (Wednesday), he emphasised that he does not want to see a fight and that people must be allowed to go home peacefully,” said Mhlongo.
Mhlongo said legitimate immigrants should continue living in the country, but their activities should be scrutinised.
“This province has wealth and heritage that belong to us, and we have to protect them by not allowing criminals to destroy properties. As traditional leaders, we must tell criminals that the June 30 protests do not belong to them, it is for legitimate concerns and not for looting and stealing.”
Dunlop Xulu, leader of the eThekwini regiment, said June 30 is not a public holiday; therefore, people should be allowed to go to work.
He said the March and March protest should not be ruined by illegal activities.
Royal family member, Prince Qaphelani Zulu, blamed politicians for failing to enforce immigration laws.
“Everyone knows that illegal immigration is against the law and the King has made that clear, but it has been many years since those in authority who drafted the Constitution failed to implement the laws,” said Zulu.
Zulu said the King could no longer keep quiet when the illegal immigrants were destroying the country’s economy.
“The King said those claiming to have children with South African citizens should go to their country and leave their children behind to follow them later.
“The King appreciates that since these protests started, no foreign national has been attacked in the province, and he requested that people continue with the peaceful protest.
“He also requested the illegal foreigners not to resist when they are told to leave the country,” Zulu said.
Zulu also called on South Africans not to abuse social media by posting pictures of themselves carrying spears and saying they are ready for June 30.
“That is causing unrest in the country, but we also see foreigners on social media saying that they are not going anywhere, which is a provocation,” said Zulu.
Ntuli’s political advisor, Nhlanhla Mtaka, said no one should be stopped from participating in the protests.
“But there must be no actions that would taint the Zulu nation’s reputation because there are people who want to taint the reputation so that the Zulu King would be blamed for whatever goes wrong.
“When you are a regiment member, your main task is to protect the nation’s reputation,” said Mtaka.