South Africa: Activists Call Out Hypocrisy of March and March's Protests

Activists in South Africa have criticized the hypocrisy of the March and March vigilante group and its protests. On Wednesday, hundreds of members and supporters of the group marched through central Durban, carrying sticks and batons, claiming the event was a day of action against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. However, many attendees were also there to address issues surrounding immigration.

The march was supposed to raise awareness about GBV, but protesters also targeted immigrant-run shops and threatened residents. Police were dispatched to disperse the crowd.

President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged more resources to fight GBV in his address to the nation on Tuesday night, but activist Yeshelen Govender pointed out that this claim is "hypocritical" given the violence migrant women have faced at the hands of group members. She added that there is no evidence to suggest that people from other countries are more likely than South Africans to commit GBV.

Activist Chandra Gould of the Institute for Security Services also dismissed the claim that GBV is mainly perpetrated by immigrants. She stated that there is no evidence to support the notion that people from other countries are more likely than South Africans to commit GBV. The activists accused March and March of weaponizing legitimate concerns about GBV and femicide to support their narrative, similar to how they have weaponized crime levels, unemployment, and service delivery issues.

March and March's broader scope was evident on Wednesday, with one activist, Thenjiswa Khowa of ActionSA, stating that the protest was more about the general issue of GBV than cases perpetrated by immigrants. However, the group's actions have had a significant impact on immigrant women and children who were forced to sleep outside for weeks due to the group's actions. The march was eventually postponed due to poor turnout and rain.