March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, Zikhona Nyathi of the KZN Civil Society Forum, KZN Community Policing Forum Secretary Siyanda Biyela, Apostle Philani Zikhali of the religious sector, and Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation leader Nkosikhona ‘Phakel’umthakathi’ Ndabandaba rejected narratives of violence ahead of the June 30 deadline.
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As KwaZulu-Natal prepares for the widely discussed June 30 date — a ‘deadline’ associated with calls for undocumented immigrants to leave South Africa — civil society leaders have stepped forward to address rising tensions.
Despite ongoing anxieties and concerns about potential unrest, various organisations involved in the upcoming mobilisations have issued strong assurances that their actions will remain peaceful. These leaders have explicitly rejected narratives of violence.
Speaking at the summit on undocumented foreign nationals on Thursday, March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma stated that they will proceed with their march on June 30, despite the eThekwini Municipality denying them their democratic right to do so, and suggested they could march on any other day instead.
“We are going to march on the 30th… It’s going to be a peaceful march; it’s going to be a successful march because none of us wants to damage our own country. This is our country,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma addresses the summit, emphasising the importance of a peaceful demonstration.
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She said that no one questioned AfriForum about their statements on white genocide in South Africa. There was no R600 million to stop AfriForum, but when it is black people, the first thing they think about is violence.
“I ask myself, who spoke about violence? March and March has never spoken about violence. And if anything, I was the first person who warned the government and said this is a problem, because communities are already angry. And what you’re seeing, where people are getting hurt and all of these things, is communities responding to an anger that’s already been there,” Ngobese-Zuma said.
“It’s not a rhetoric that March and March has pushed. We have never gone out and said people will be killed. Instead, we say people must go and fix their countries.”
Zikhona Nyathi of the KZN Civil Society Forum said they heard KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli and King Misuzulu’s requests that there should be no conflict and they respect that.
“There is no place where we have indicated that there should be a war, or that the plan for the 30th is to attack. Our only stance is that we are asking for them (undocumented immigrants) to leave us be in our own home,” Nyathi said.
“But we will ensure that no blood is spilt, and we will ensure that everything happens peacefully. As I have just said, a nation that listens is a nation that respects; we are determined to show that we are listening, but we will not suppress our voices or our feelings just because it is necessary to show how we feel.”
Apostle Philani Zikhali of the religious sector said they are associating themselves with the ‘Engangeni Ngesango Iyafohla’ campaign.
“We also say they (undocumented immigrants) must leave in peace. On the 30th, we do not want to see anyone being beaten; we do not want to see anyone being killed, but we will not be quiet. They (undocumented immigrants) must leave in peace,” Zikhali said.
Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation leader Nkosikhona ‘Phakel’umthakathi’ Ndabandaba said they will behave like they have been doing.
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Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation leader Nkosikhona ‘Phakel’umthakathi’ Ndabandaba said they will support Premier Ntuli by behaving well as they have been doing.
He also promised the police, KZN Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and Acting KZN Provincial Commissioner Major General Phumelele Makoba, that “nothing bad will happen”.
“But we are also asking you, leaders, to please speak to them (immigrants) on our behalf so that they do not provoke us. Truth be told, we will not accept that. They should not provoke us; they should not come out and stand in tall buildings and flip us off, because that disturbs people. Where people are behaving well, we ask that the foreigners allow the people to do what they are doing because they are in their own country,” Ndabandaba said.
KZN Community Policing Forum Secretary Siyanda Biyela said their work is simple: “It is to support the police.”