March and March protests resume in Durban as police face brutality allegations

Ask AI 6minPolice use rubber rounds and stun grenades to disperse March and March protesters in Durban.

The March and March movement has resumed protests in Durban following a court-ordered suspension during the election period, with police maintaining a heightened presence near the Department of Home Affairs offices in Umbilo amid allegations of excessive force.

The anti-illegal immigration movement suspended its demonstrations during the 2026 local government elections. An interim court order restricting protests until Nov. 6 has since expired, allowing demonstrators to return to Che Guevara Road, formerly Moore Road, where the Home Affairs offices are located.

The renewed demonstrations have raised questions about whether the escalating dispute between protesters and police will be resolved through the courts or continue on Durban’s streets.

March and March is a grassroots anti-illegal immigration movement founded in March 2024 and led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a former Vuma FM radio presenter from KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal.

The movement is calling for the deportation of undocumented immigrants, tighter border controls, employment opportunities to be prioritised for South Africans and stricter regulation of the e-hailing and delivery industries.

Critics, including human rights organisations and political parties, have described the movement as xenophobic, citing protests associated with violence, including the torching of vehicles, attacks on foreign nationals and intimidation of traders.

The movement rejects the accusations, maintaining that its campaign is aimed at ensuring immigration laws are enforced.

Police officers and March and March protesters during clashes on Che Guevara Road in Umbilo, Durban. Picture: Supplied.

Protesters returned to the area surrounding the Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road after the temporary suspension expired.

The movement had been staging a sit-in near the offices for about a month before the court intervention.

Police have maintained a visible presence in the area, prompting accusations from March and March that authorities are preparing to suppress lawful demonstrations.

Police, however, maintain that their deployment is intended to preserve public order, protect government property and businesses, and ensure compliance with court-imposed restrictions.

The interim order was granted on Oct. 30 by Judge Peter Olsen following an urgent application by acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

It suspended demonstrations until Nov. 6, after the election period.

The order also imposed restrictions on subsequent marches, including limiting demonstrations to designated routes and specified daylight hours.

Protesters were prohibited from carrying weapons, including sticks and knobkerries, concealing their faces with masks, wearing clothing resembling police or military uniforms, and engaging in violence, looting or arson.

Olsen emphasised that the order did not constitute a finding of wrongdoing against Ngobese-Zuma.

The matter is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 18, 2027.

Police officers and March and March protesters during clashes on Che Guevara Road in Umbilo, Durban.

Tensions escalated on Tuesday, Nov. 10, when police and protesters clashed on Che Guevara Road in Umbilo.

The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain disputed, with police and March and March presenting conflicting accounts. Neither version has been tested in court.

Ngobese-Zuma condemned what she described as police brutality against ordinary South Africans, accusing officers of turning against the communities they are mandated to protect.

March and March spokesperson Sandile Dube said the organisation had conducted an internal investigation, interviewed members and visited the scene.

Dube denied that the movement had organised a march that day, saying about 20 members of the public were walking towards traffic lights when police ordered them to return to their tents.

He alleged that an officer subsequently fired rubber bullets at the group.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col. Robert Netshiunda said Public Order Police officers used what he described as minimum proportional force to disperse a group marching along Che Guevara Road shortly after 3 p.m., when demonstrations were required to end under the court order.

Netshiunda alleged that most participants were carrying dangerous weapons, including sticks, while others had concealed their faces with masks or other items.

He said officers stopped the group and reminded participants of the court order prohibiting marches after 3 p.m., the possession of dangerous weapons and the concealment of faces during demonstrations.

Netshiunda said the situation escalated when protesters allegedly began throwing stones at officers.

“During the deliberations, the marchers, who did not have marshals controlling them as required by law, became violent and started throwing stones at the police. To manage the crowd and restore public order, police used minimum force such as stun grenades and rubber bullets. Police are continuing to manage the situation on the ground. No injuries were reported to the police.”

Police have launched an investigation into possible violations of the interim court order and allegations of assault against officers.

Authorities maintain that their actions were necessary to enforce the court order, prevent violence and protect businesses and members of the public, regardless of nationality.

March and March, however, accuses police of using excessive force against South African protesters while prioritising the protection of foreign nationals.

The conflicting accounts have intensified tensions over the limits of police authority and the right to peaceful protest.

Meanwhile, a separate legal dispute involving foreign-owned businesses is unfolding in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal.

A group of foreign national business owners has approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court, seeking protection against alleged trespassing and intimidation, as well as the restoration of access to their premises.

The application, filed on Nov. 6, identifies 22 applicant businesses, including Farooq Blitz Trading, Ali71999 Cell and Sound, Nongoma Tasty Shawarma, Nadeep Hussain Shah, trading as Halal Fried Chicken, Nu Jabulani Traders and Supergroup of Companies.

The first respondent is cultural activist, actor and anti-illegal immigration campaigner Nkosikhona “Phakel’umthakathi” Ndabandaba, also identified in court papers as Andries Nkosikhona Ndabandaba.

Other respondents include Pelele Thami Zungu, Phumlani Khumalo, Cebo Mnguni, Tenten Nxumalo, Bono Ntethwa, Duduzane Zulu, Mncedisi Nxumalo and the Insizwa Nobunsizwa Development Foundation.

The applicants are seeking interim relief that would restore possession of their premises and compel the removal of locks, chains, shields and other obstructions preventing them from trading.

They also want the respondents prohibited from entering or trespassing on their properties, gathering outside their businesses, or threatening and intimidating employees.

The application further seeks authorisation for police to take reasonable steps to enforce any court orders, including deploying officers from elsewhere in the country and assisting the sheriff.

Alternatively, the applicants want permission to appoint a private security company to assist with enforcement.

A judge has directed the parties to engage in settlement discussions ahead of their next court appearance on Nov. 23.

As tensions persist, March and March attorney Xolani Zuma has appealed for restraint from both protesters and police.

Zuma, who accompanied Ngobese-Zuma in Umbilo, said he had urged officers not to provoke demonstrators while also calling on protesters to refrain from attacking police.

He emphasised that the movement’s dispute was not with the police and encouraged members to comply with the court order.

The appeal comes as the movement faces continued scrutiny over its protest tactics and the authorities face questions about their response.

With court proceedings pending in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, the disputes have brought competing rights into focus, including the right to peaceful protest, the right to conduct lawful business and the responsibility of police to maintain public order.

Whether those disputes can be resolved through legal processes remains uncertain as tensions continue on Durban’s streets.