MANZINI – The March and March Movement in South Africa has intensified its anti-illegal immigration campaign by targeting border offices between the republic and the kingdom.
March and March is a South African grassroots civic movement founded in 2025 by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, advocating for stricter immigration enforcement, the deportation of undocumented foreign nationals and economic protection for citizens. The movement organises mass protests and engages in advocacy, blaming illegal immigration for unemployment and high crime rates.
Specifically, they have announced that they intend to visit Golela Border in Lavumisa where hundreds of emaSwati pass through on a daily basis, most of them on their way to Durban, the tourism hub of SA. However, the date and time was not stated. They said a visit to other borders is in the pipeline.
In social media videos, they said after marching through the streets of Johannesburg and Hillbrow, they also have plans to visit Golela. “Swaziland (Eswatini) Border, here we come. We want to practically see how you enter and exit the border. Those who say we must not touch foreign nationals, we say we must not touch foreign nationals to touch them,” he said. Communications Officer in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mlandvo Dlamini said the ministry had not been informed about the intended visit to the border, which implies they will continue working as normal. Responding to questions on how they will react to the marches in the event that eventually come through, he said Home Affairs works with transparency and will listen to anyone who lodges a complaint, after which appropriate action will be taken. “If their visit is lawful, we will listen to them through our transparency principles guiding our operations. We will definitely listen to them, but for now, we are expecting no one since no notice has been given,” he said. Meanwhile, people who reacted to the social media posts, said there is no reason to be bothering emaSwati because they have a relationship with South Africans, especially the Zulu nation.
Meanwhile, the Oshoek Border Gate, known in Eswatini as the Ngwenya Border Gate, has been singled out as a major hotspot for informal and illegal crossings as South Africa intensifies its border security overhaul. The red-flagging of Oshoek comes as part of a sweeping R12.5 billion border modernisation programme spearheaded by South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA), an initiative now being positioned as a game-changer in how the country manages migration, trade and security. South African Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has described the redevelopment of key land ports of entry as a critical milestone in transforming the country’s border management into a modern, secure and efficient system capable of meeting growing regional demands. According to reports, the large-scale project will focus on six strategic ports Oshoek, Lebombo, Beitbridge, Kopfontein, Maseru Bridge and Ficksburg which together account for more than 80 per cent of South Africa’s land-based trade and passenger movement.
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March and March members marching along the streets of Johannesburg last week. (Courtesy pic)