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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Foreigners not responsible for South Africa’s woes — Journalist, Ngalwa

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • A South African journalist argues that political opportunism, not public hostility, fuels anti-foreigner sentiment in the country.
  • S'bu Ngalwa claims a movement called "March-and-March" is well-funded and politically sponsored, with links to former President Jacob Zuma's party.
  • He dismissed claims that migrants are responsible for South Africa's economic and security issues, attributing unrest to political agendas.

S'bu Ngalwa, Secretary-General of the African Editors Forum, contends that the ongoing anti-foreigner protests in South Africa are driven by political opportunism rather than genuine public sentiment. Ngalwa stated that certain political actors are using civil society as a cover for their agendas.

What is driving the xenophobic protests this time around is political opportunism.

— S'bu NgalwaExplaining the perceived motivation behind current anti-foreigner protests.

He specifically pointed to the "March-and-March Movement," describing it as a group with no clear origin or structure that seemingly appeared from nowhere. Ngalwa highlighted that despite its supposed spontaneous nature, the movement appears well-funded, evidenced by its ability to mobilize people, pay for transportation, and sustain protesters. "Somebody has paid for that. Somebody has provided the funding and sustained those being transported to that location for the duration of the protest," he noted, suggesting it is a "well-funded campaign with specific political objectives."

The so-called March-and-March Movement behind the xenophobic protests is a movement with no clear origin or structure that appeared from nowhere.

— S'bu NgalwaDescribing the perceived nature of the protest movement.

Ngalwa further elaborated on the political affiliations of the movement, noting that its leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has publicly supported former President Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. The MK Party has also openly endorsed the "March-and-March Movement." This connection leads Ngalwa to assert that the protests do not represent a widespread South African public uprising against foreigners.

But for a movement that is supposed to be spontaneous, it appears to be well-funded.

— S'bu NgalwaHighlighting the financial resources of the protest movement.

He dismissed the notion that migrants are the cause of South Africa's economic and security challenges. Ngalwa drew a parallel to the 2021 violence that followed Jacob Zuma's jailing, which largely occurred in Zuma's home province of KwaZulu-Natal, also a base for the "March-and-March Movement." He also mentioned Gayton Kula, a prominent figure in the protests, who was arrested in 2021 in connection with violence linked to Zuma's imprisonment, further suggesting a political undercurrent to the anti-foreigner sentiment.

Somebody has paid for that. Somebody has provided the funding and sustained those being transported to that location for the duration of the protest.

— S'bu NgalwaProviding evidence for the organized nature of the protests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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