March and March operations on hold as it talks with AfriForum

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma announced on Tuesday that the movement's activities had been suspended while discussions were underway with other groups, including AfriForum. "Today we do more consultations for SA First Forum… March and March work is on hold," Ngobese-Zuma stated. Previously, she had defended the movement's autonomy from established political entities, clarifying its status as a movement rather than a political party.

Ngobese-Zuma elaborated on her stance during a demonstration in Durban, linking the decision to engage AfriForum to the SA First Forum initiative. This forum aims to glean insights from various advocacy organizations, despite differences in ideology. She emphasized the importance of learning from successful strategies employed by other groups, such as funding university institutions.

Ngobese-Zuma stressed that the engagement did not imply full alignment with AfriForum, stating that disagreements would remain disagreements. The movement's inclusivity was underscored by Ngobese-Zuma, who emphasized that they do not ostracize individuals based on race. They are focused solely on addressing issues related to undocumented individuals in the country.

Ngobese-Zuma dismissed allegations of criminality associated with the movement, asserting that their marches were lawful. She clarified that looting remains a separate criminal issue. Ngobese-Zuma also refuted claims of responsibility for foreign nationals leaving South Africa, attributing the departures to fear of potential unrest on June 30th.

She encouraged employers of undocumented workers to assist with their return home. Despite the temporary halt, Ngobese-Zuma signalled that the movement would resume demonstrations on September 30th, continuing to advocate for stringent border enforcement.