Ngizwe Mchunu responds after March and March suspends ties pending probe

The March and March movement has suspended its working relationship with Ngizwe Mchunu pending further investigations, after its leadership said it found evidence of alleged interference aimed at weakening the organisation. The suspension was announced following an ordinary National Executive Committee meeting on July 25.

Mchunu says the movement’s work has delivered results

In a video posted on Monday, Ngizwe Mchunu the controversial former Ukhozi FM presenter and anti-migrant activist pushed back at the fallout, saying the campaign had achieved progress and that continued marches were no longer necessary.

“My people, it became dark on the evening of Monday, July 27. We have just returned from Richards Bay, where we were fighting against the abuse of workers by Transnet,”

“We hope the message we delivered will be heard. I speak with great joy after more than 1,000 marches across South Africa before the June 30 deadline for illegal migrants to leave.”

Mchunu added: “As much as we did not accomplish everything we set out to do, we cannot march forever. That is the truth, because we have no intention of collapsing the economy,” and said he spoke “as someone who has been arrested.”

Internal probe and leadership tensions

March and March said its leadership found evidence of alleged interference that aimed to weaken the movement, prompting the decision to cut ties. National spokesperson Sandile Dube said the movement received a report from its governance and legal compliance wing after what he described as a protracted investigation.

Dube said the probe examined alleged attempts by political role players and business cartels to destabilise the movement and demobilise supporters. He said the movement accepted the investigation’s findings, which he said pointed to “an offer and acceptance of gratification in exchange for the soul of the Movement and our people.”

“This is a war we are prepared to fight relentlessly. We want a united South Africa, and we want to work with people we can trust,”

Following consideration of the investigation’s findings and the movement’s founding principles, Dube announced that, pending further investigations, the movement would not be working with Mr Ngizwe Mchunu.

Disputes over leadership and recent meetings

In his remarks, Mchunu criticised movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and fellow activist Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, known as Phakela’umthakathi, suggesting they lacked the experience to lead and saying he had become “a visionary.”

“My fellow leaders, Phakela and MaNgobese, are junior to me. They are excited by everything, including the limelight and relevance. I am no longer excited. I have become a visionary. I know what to do and when to do it. When someone is weak, someone else has to protect everyone. We must lift one another up,”

The announcement follows a meeting between Mchunu and President Cyril Ramaphosa, alongside Phakela, hours before nationwide demonstrations on June 30. The pair co-led marches calling for tougher enforcement against undocumented migrants and were received by Ramaphosa as part of efforts to engage directly with figures associated with the protest movement.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has said she had repeatedly sought a meeting with the President but had received no response, and that she was not aware of the meeting between Mchunu, Ndabandaba and the President. Ngobese-Zuma had said she had not been involved in discussions leading up to that meeting and had not been informed about what was discussed.

Ngobese-Zuma also announced that demonstrations against undocumented immigration would be held every Thursday for three months until the government responded to the movement’s demands, saying: “For as long as they haven’t left, we are marching every Thursday.”

Contact attempts and responses

According to IOL, the publication reached out to Ngobese-Zuma, who declined to comment on Mchunu’s remarks:

“I dont have a comment,” she said.

According to IOL, attempts to reach Mchunu for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

Where things stand

The movement has suspended its working relationship with Mchunu pending the outcome of further investigations, while public disagreement between movement figures and questions about recent meetings with the Presidency remain part of the unfolding story.