March and March launches the South Africa First Forum

March and March launches the South Africa First Forum as the movement expands its activities beyond public demonstrations and into legal advocacy, human rights education and community support. The new initiative, announced by March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, aims to help South Africans gain easier access to legal services while addressing human rights violations through education, advocacy and, where necessary, litigation.

The announcement was made during a media briefing in Durban, where Ngobese-Zuma outlined the objectives of the newly established South Africa First Forum, saying it was created to empower communities and provide practical assistance to citizens who struggle to access justice.

According to the movement, the forum will focus on legal education, immigration law awareness, constitutional rights, advocacy programmes and support services designed to strengthen communities across South Africa.

South Africa First Forum aims to expand legal support

The South Africa First Forum has been established as a registered non-profit organisation (NPO) that will operate under the name SA First Forum. The organisation intends to provide legal assistance and educational programmes while advocating for citizens who believe their constitutional rights have been violated.

Speaking during the launch, Ngobese-Zuma said the initiative represents a new phase for the movement.

She explained that the forum was established to create opportunities for South Africans while supporting their development through human rights education and access to justice.

The organisation says it will offer:

• Human rights education
• Legal education programmes
• Information on South African immigration laws
• Advocacy services
• Community support initiatives
• Referrals for legal assistance

The movement believes these services will improve access to justice for many South Africans who cannot afford private legal representation.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma outlines the vision

Human rights legal services for communities

Addressing journalists, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the forum seeks to become a platform that gives ordinary South Africans greater access to justice.

She announced that the movement had taken what she described as a bold decision to establish a forum that would represent South Africans, particularly black communities, who she argued have struggled to obtain justice through existing systems.

Ngobese-Zuma said the organisation intends to educate citizens about their constitutional rights while providing guidance on legal processes and government procedures.

She further stated that the SA First Forum would, where appropriate, institute legal proceedings against the state on behalf of citizens if constitutional or legal rights are believed to have been infringed.

According to the movement, litigation would only be pursued when necessary after legal assessments have been conducted.

SA First Forum plans to challenge government decisions

During the media briefing, Ngobese-Zuma described the organisation as a legal support structure that would assist people who feel they have limited avenues for resolving disputes involving public institutions.

She argued that many citizens cannot afford lengthy court proceedings or legal representation and that the forum would help bridge that gap through legal support and advocacy.

The organisation also indicated that it intends to challenge certain government decisions through the courts where it believes constitutional issues arise.

Among the matters mentioned during the launch was a South African Police Service circular that the movement says it believes is unconstitutional.

The forum stated that any legal challenges would be pursued through lawful judicial processes.

March and March shifts beyond protests

From demonstrations to structured advocacy

Since gaining national attention through demonstrations and public campaigns, March and March says it now wants to broaden its activities by focusing on long-term community development.

Ngobese-Zuma explained that while public protests have highlighted issues affecting many communities, legal action and civic education would become equally important components of the movement’s future strategy.

The establishment of the South Africa First Forum signals a shift from mobilisation through demonstrations to pursuing constitutional remedies where required.

The organisation says this approach will enable it to engage institutions through legal channels while continuing public awareness campaigns.

Immigration remains a key concern

Immigration policy continues to feature prominently in the movement’s agenda.

Ngobese-Zuma linked illegal immigration to several social challenges, including organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, homelessness and youth substance abuse.

She argued that stronger enforcement of existing immigration legislation would contribute to addressing broader social concerns.

The movement also says it intends to educate communities about immigration laws and citizens’ constitutional rights regarding public participation and lawful civic engagement.

The forum emphasised that its activities would focus on legal advocacy and education.

Community development programmes announced

Beyond legal work, the organisation says it plans to introduce several social development initiatives.

According to Ngobese-Zuma, the South Africa First Forum will support programmes aimed at empowering young people and women, particularly those affected by poverty, substance abuse and exploitation.

These initiatives are expected to include educational workshops, awareness campaigns and partnerships with community organisations.

The movement believes these programmes can contribute to long-term social development while helping vulnerable communities access available public services.

M&M Foundation also registered

Alongside the launch of the SA First Forum, the movement confirmed that it has also registered the M&M Foundation as a non-profit organisation.

While fewer details were provided regarding the foundation’s operations, it is expected to support the movement’s broader community development objectives.

The establishment of both organisations represents an expansion of March and March’s organisational structure beyond protest activities into formal civic programmes.

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What happens next?

The launch of the South Africa First Forum marks an important development for the movement as it seeks to position itself within South Africa’s civil society landscape through legal advocacy and community programmes.

Whether the forum achieves its stated objectives will depend on its ability to establish legal partnerships, secure funding and successfully implement its planned education and advocacy initiatives.

For now, March and March says its priority is ensuring that more South Africans understand their constitutional rights and have improved access to human rights legal services through the newly established forum.

As the organisation begins its operations, its legal initiatives and future court actions are likely to attract significant public attention, particularly on issues relating to constitutional rights, immigration law and access to justice.

The South Africa First Forum says it intends to work within South Africa’s legal framework while advocating for communities it believes have historically struggled to access legal representation and human rights protections.