March and March leader rejects Israel funding claims, says movement runs on donations and personal funds

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has denied allegations that her movement receives funding from Israel or the South African state, saying the claims are “offensive” and unfounded. She told media at a Midrand briefing that the group is financed by voluntary donations and personal resources.

Denial of foreign and state funding

Ngobese-Zuma said the movement is “neither funded by taxpayers nor foreign donors.” She dismissed suggestions of Israeli backing and told reporters:

“The only time I ever heard about Israel was in the Bible.”

She added that the movement is not supported by large donors, saying:

“We don’t have R6 million, R100 million right here. Maybe give us R600 million, and we’ll show you how to take care of the country.”

Transparency and funding evidence

Facing questions about transparency, Ngobese-Zuma said the movement could produce documentation of its income. She said:

“We have bank statements where people donate. If you want to see them today, I can give them to you.”

She reiterated that the movement is funded through “voluntary contributions and personal resources, not taxpayer money,” and asked:

“If South Africans are donating to us, why is it a problem?”

Response to criticism and focus of protest

Ngobese-Zuma criticised attempts to link the movement to external financiers as being based on stereotypes, saying:

“So are you saying black people cannot stand up for anything unless there is money involved? Are we not smart enough?”

She rejected suggestions that the movement’s activities were tied to specific religious or geopolitical conflicts and said the planned protest would concentrate on immigration enforcement and legal compliance.

“We don’t care if it’s white people, Chinese or anyone else,”

she said, adding:

“We just want people to be in the country legally.”

Accountability and security

On who is responsible for maintaining order during the planned June 30 protest, Ngobese-Zuma said that responsibility rested with the authorities rather than organisers, saying:

“If the government is going to be spending R600 million, then they must show they can protect the country.”

The police have warned that no lawlessness will be tolerated during the protest and urged participants not to take the law into their own hands. The acting police minister Professor Firoz Cachalia confirmed that R600 million has been allocated for police security operations linked to the demonstration.