Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma Compares Cyril Ramaphosa to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has launched a fresh attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa, comparing his leadership to that of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa during a protest in Durban.

Ngobese-Zuma addressed a large gathering outside the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road in Durban on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The demonstration was centred on concerns surrounding illegal immigration, crime and the government’s handling of grievances raised by local communities.

The protesters later marched towards Berea Police Station in Musgrave, where they continued expressing their frustrations.

Speaking to protesters through a megaphone, Ngobese-Zuma accused Ramaphosa’s government of failing to engage with them despite their claims that their concerns have been raised repeatedly over an extended period.

She compared the current situation in South Africa with the country’s apartheid past, telling the crowd that she believed the government was failing to listen to ordinary citizens.

“We have gone back in time; it’s like we are back in 1986. The apartheid-era government is still here,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma also questioned why Ramaphosa had not personally met with the protesters.

“Not once has Cyril come out to see us. Not once!” she told the crowd.

She accused the government of prioritising other activities instead of addressing the concerns raised by the demonstrators.

Her remarks received strong support from sections of the crowd, who repeatedly responded to her statements during the address.

Ngobese-Zuma’s criticism extended beyond Ramaphosa’s alleged lack of engagement. She also compared the South African president with Zimbabwean leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The comparison came amid broader criticism from the protesters over how authorities have responded to community concerns.

Her remarks suggested that she believes the South African government is adopting an approach that does not sufficiently address the grievances of citizens who feel affected by illegal immigration and crime.

The comparison is likely to fuel further debate about the differences and similarities between the political situations in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

During the demonstration, protesters also expressed frustration about their experiences when attempting to report crimes allegedly involving foreign nationals.

Some claimed that police stations had failed to adequately assist them when they attempted to open cases.

Ngobese-Zuma alleged that some case dockets opened at police stations ultimately went nowhere. She also claimed that certain community members had been physically assaulted.

These allegations formed part of the broader frustration expressed by protesters, although individual claims would need to be investigated and verified by the relevant authorities.

The presence of police and soldiers in the area also became a major point of contention.

Ngobese-Zuma criticised the deployment, arguing that the government’s response appeared focused on controlling protesters rather than addressing the issues they had raised.

The Durban protest comes amid an increasingly heated national debate over immigration and the pressure placed on South Africa’s public services, policing and local communities.

Immigration has become a particularly contentious issue, with political organisations and civic groups taking different positions on how the government should manage undocumented migration.

While some groups have called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws, others have warned against blaming foreign nationals collectively for crime and other social problems.

The challenge for authorities remains balancing effective border and immigration management with constitutional protections and the rights of everyone living in the country.

This is not the first time Ngobese-Zuma has publicly criticised Ramaphosa.

The March and March leader has previously taken to social media to question the president’s handling of various matters, including concerns surrounding crime and immigration.

Her latest comments in Durban are likely to add to the growing public debate over the government’s approach to these issues.

For now, the protest has once again placed immigration, policing and political accountability at the centre of public discussion, while Ngobese-Zuma continues to demand greater attention from Ramaphosa and his government.

Her comparison of Ramaphosa with Mnangagwa has also added a political dimension to the dispute, ensuring that the Durban demonstration will continue to generate discussion beyond the streets where protesters gathered.

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