March and March to picket outside Sadc summit ahead of ‘deportation’ deadline
March and March to picket outside SADC summit as the anti-illegal immigration movement led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma prepares to demonstrate outside the 46th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit in Durban.
The planned picket comes as regional leaders gather in the city to discuss issues including migration, security, economic integration and regional development.
March and March has said its protest will take place under the theme “It’s time to fetch your people”, as the organisation demands stronger government action against undocumented migration.
The movement’s activities are taking place under heavy security, with authorities preparing for protests and other public gatherings around the summit venue.
March and March targets SADC summit
March and March has positioned the Durban demonstration as part of its broader campaign against undocumented migration in South Africa.
The movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has called on African leaders attending the SADC summit to address migration and economic conditions that it says are contributing to the movement of people across borders.
Ngobese-Zuma previously led large anti-illegal immigration demonstrations in Durban and other parts of South Africa, including nationwide action on 30 June. Following those protests, she announced that March and March would continue holding demonstrations on Thursdays until the government takes what the movement considers meaningful action.
The movement has consistently said its campaign is focused on undocumented migrants rather than legally resident foreign nationals, while critics have raised concerns about the potential for anti-immigrant rhetoric to fuel discrimination. SABC News has reported both the movement’s position and Ngobese-Zuma’s rejection of allegations that its campaign is xenophobic.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma leads Durban protest
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma is expected to lead supporters through central Durban as the SADC summit takes place at the city’s international convention centre.
The movement has called on African leaders to return to their respective countries and address economic challenges that it says contribute to migration.
In statements around previous demonstrations, Ngobese-Zuma has argued that African governments should create better economic opportunities, infrastructure and services so their citizens are not forced to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Her latest messaging places the protest within a wider criticism of African governments and regional economic conditions rather than focusing solely on South Africa’s immigration controls.
March and March’s position has become increasingly prominent during 2026, with the organisation holding several demonstrations and calling for stronger action on undocumented migration and border management.
Weekly protests form part of wider campaign
The Durban picket is not an isolated event.
After the 30 June demonstrations, Ngobese-Zuma said supporters would continue marching every Thursday. eNCA reported that the movement described the June action as only the first phase of a longer campaign, while EWN reported that the leader intended to maintain weekly demonstrations until the government’s response met the movement’s demands.
The continued protests have kept migration high on South Africa’s political agenda.
They also come as government agencies intensify efforts to enforce immigration legislation and manage undocumented migration.
SADC summit focuses on regional challenges
The SADC summit brings together leaders from the Southern African region to discuss challenges affecting the bloc.
Migration is particularly relevant to South Africa because the movement of people across borders is linked to employment, trade, security and regional development.
South Africa has also been promoting a more orderly regional approach to migration, including efforts to advance a protocol facilitating the movement of people within SADC.
The government’s position is that irregular migration should be dealt with through lawful processes while regional countries work together to address the underlying economic causes of migration.
This approach differs from the more forceful position advocated by March and March, which is calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
The Durban summit therefore provides a prominent platform for competing views about how Southern Africa should manage migration.
Illegal immigration remains central to protest demands
The issue of illegal immigration remains at the centre of March and March’s campaign.
The movement has called for undocumented foreign nationals to be removed from South Africa and has repeatedly demanded stronger border controls.
It has also argued that the government needs to do more to protect South African communities from crime and pressure on public institutions.
The movement has previously urged South Africans to report suspected criminal activity to the police and has framed its campaign as a demand for stronger enforcement of immigration laws.
However, claims about crime, employment and public services involving foreign nationals remain contested and should not be generalised to migrants as a group.
South Africa’s migration debate has become increasingly polarised, making the government’s response to protests a sensitive issue.
Calls for deportation
March and March has announced a new phase of its campaign linked to a proposed September 30 deadline for the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.
The organisation has described the planned campaign as a major escalation of its pressure on government.
It has also criticised certain government directives and called for changes to the way immigration law is enforced.
These demands have placed the movement in direct confrontation with government policy, which maintains that immigration enforcement must take place within the law and respect constitutional rights.
Durban protest takes place under heavy security
The planned Durban protest is taking place while the city is under a heightened security operation for the SADC summit.
Law-enforcement agencies have been monitoring planned marches and gatherings and have warned participants to comply with instructions from officials.
NATJOINTS has said peaceful and lawful protest is constitutionally protected.
At the same time, authorities have warned that violence, intimidation, property destruction, attempts to breach restricted areas or other criminal conduct will not be tolerated.
This distinction is particularly important because the Durban ICC and surrounding areas are subject to strict access controls during the summit.
Recent security incidents have already demonstrated the heightened sensitivity around the venue.
Three people were reportedly arrested in separate incidents involving alleged attempts to gain unauthorised access to the summit, including two Congolese nationals accused of using another person’s accreditation and a Zimbabwean national who allegedly sought accreditation under false pretences.
Protesters expected to follow police instructions
Authorities have urged people participating in marches to obey instructions from law-enforcement officials and remain within the conditions applicable to their demonstrations.
For organisers, this creates a responsibility to ensure that protesters understand the rules governing the march.
For police, the challenge will be maintaining security around the summit while allowing lawful political expression.
The presence of regional leaders means any significant disruption could attract international attention.
At the same time, restricting legitimate peaceful protest could raise concerns about constitutional rights.
Migration debate extends beyond South Africa
The issues raised by March and March also highlight broader challenges facing the SADC region.
Southern African countries are economically interconnected, and people regularly cross borders for employment, family, education and business.
Economic inequality and unemployment can encourage migration, while political or economic instability in individual countries can increase pressure on neighbouring states.
That is why South Africa has been advocating regional approaches to migration rather than relying solely on domestic enforcement.
March and March, however, argues that South Africa must prioritise its citizens and strengthen control of its borders.
The contrasting approaches will likely remain part of the debate during and after the SADC summit.
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What happens next?
The planned picket is expected to draw additional attention to March and March’s campaign as SADC leaders meet in Durban.
For Ngobese-Zuma and her supporters, the protest is an opportunity to place migration directly before regional leaders and demand action.
For the South African government, the priority will be ensuring that the summit proceeds safely while immigration laws continue to be enforced through formal institutions.
The wider debate will also depend on whether SADC countries can make progress on orderly migration, regional trade and economic development.
March and March to picket outside SADC summit reflects the increasingly prominent role migration is playing in South Africa’s political debate.
As the movement continues its campaign, its demands are likely to remain controversial, particularly where calls for stronger immigration enforcement intersect with constitutional protections and regional commitments to integration.
The Durban protest is therefore not simply a local demonstration. It is taking place alongside a major regional meeting where leaders are discussing exactly the cross-border economic, political and migration issues that have fuelled the movement’s campaign.
How authorities manage the protest, and how SADC leaders respond to the wider migration debate, will be closely watched in the days ahead.
Mainstream media references
- SABC News – March and March protest march planned for Durban
Read the SABC News report - EWN – Ngobese-Zuma says March and March will protest every Thursday
Read the EWN report - TimesLIVE – Thousands of March and March supporters march through Durban
Read the TimesLIVE report - GroundUp – March and March protest in Durban
Read the GroundUp report
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