1. The Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign against Xenophobia (‘SSAC’) notes with concern the virulent and bigoted calls made by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a March and March figurehead, for yet another violent, intimidatory ‘clean up’ action scheduled for 10th September 2026 and directed at the group of refugees who have been stranded outside the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Office on Che Guevara Road. The social media posts and comments are littered with bigoted comments, violent threats and racial slurs. Some of the commenting accounts have posted pictures of petrol cans, matches and pangas.
2. The last March and March ‘clean up operation’ degenerated into serious violence on 03rd September 2026, in a well-documented and publicised incident. Victims of the violence had to be hospitalized, and there was the additional psychological trauma inflicted on the entirety of the refugee group which has been subject to months-long campaign of intimidation and harassment at the Che Guevara site.
3. At least two refugee children suffered injuries requiring medical attention, and two adults sustained severe head injuries requiring hospitalisation. Several of our SSAC activists were subjected to intimidation, verbal, racial and physical abuse. We confirm that the necessary legal steps have been taken to charge the easily identifiable perpetrators of these criminal offences and we eagerly anticipate the activation of the criminal justice system.
4. We are making a clear call on all state authorities to confirm whether Ethekwini Metro officials have made a decision to grant a ‘Section 4 permit’ which would allow the planned March and March action to take place on 10th September 2026.
5. If such a permit has been granted, officials need to explain the rationale behind this decision because it is patently irresponsible and irrational to allow the violent March and March supporters anywhere near the refugee group.
6. We emphasise that SAPS and Metro Police commanding officers MUST display better planning and judgment than they did on 03rd September 2026, and should ensure that March and March supporters are not allowed to approach the refugee group at all. It was this previous failure in crowd control measures which allowed March and March supporters to directly approach the refugees, steal their personal belongings and physically assault the refugees. A repetition of this incident would simply amount to criminal negligence on the part of the very same authorities who are entrusted to govern our country and ensure the safety of all residents in South Africa.
7. If a permit has NOT been applied for and granted in terms of our Gatherings Act, we want to clearly state that the March and March action is illegal. State authorities are obliged to stop this action, and arrest the organisers. Our laws require this, and this is not a debatable issue. The consistent failure to arrest the organisers of these illegal gatherings has simply resulted in escalating violence that has caused harm throughout the country.
8. We are unequivocally stating that our activists and supporters will once more be conducting violence monitoring duties at the site and shall continue with our evidence gathering efforts, with the intention of placing further charges against whichever March and March supporters are witnessed to be breaking the law.

For further comment, contact: Yeshelen Govender – 083 417 4983

Lubna Nadvi – 083 786 4918

SIYAFANA SONKE ACTION CAMPAIGN | siyafanasonkeaction@gmail.com