Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma Defends Anti-Immigration Stance Amid Rising Tensions
- May 6
- 1 min read
A South African activist and media figure, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has openly justified her support for anti-immigration campaigns targeting foreign nationals, particularly Nigerians, citing personal experiences and long-standing grievances.
In a widely circulated video, Ngobese-Zuma acknowledged public perceptions of her as “bitter,” linking her views to a troubling incident from her teenage years. She recounted how her mother allegedly discovered at the Department of Home Affairs that she had been unknowingly registered as married to a Nigerian man, creating identity complications for the family.
According to Ngobese-Zuma, the situation caused emotional distress and legal complications, including advice from authorities that her mother would need to pursue a divorce—potentially forfeiting part of her assets to a man she had never met.
She argued that such experiences shaped her distrust of certain immigration practices, alleging that some foreign nationals exploit loopholes through fraudulent or transactional marriages to secure residency and economic advantages.
Ngobese-Zuma is the founder of the March and March Movement, a group advocating stricter immigration enforcement, prioritisation of citizens in access to jobs and services, and stronger oversight of border policies.
Her comments come amid heightened tensions in South Africa over undocumented migration. Earlier this week, she led a protest to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, where demonstrators called for decisive action against what they described as criminal networks linked to illegal immigration.
At the rally, she maintained that the movement’s demands reflect growing frustration among citizens who feel economically and socially strained, insisting that tougher government action is overdue.
Her remarks have continued to stir debate, with critics warning that such rhetoric risks fuelling xenophobia, while supporters argue it reflects legitimate concerns over immigration management.
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