From street protests to the courtroom: A defining week for March and March

Defence attorney Xolani Christopher Zuma (right) discusses matters with a member of the March and March Movement, Wandile “Method” Nsibande, in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday. A packed court room testifies to the popularity of the movement in Durban.

The March and March Movement dominated headlines this week, both inside and outside the Durban Magistrate's Court, amid protests, court appearances and claims that arrest warrants had been issued for its leader, Jacinta MaNgobese-Zuma.

Nineteen people directly or indirectly affiliated with the movement appeared in the Durban court on Friday, facing various charges linked to public violence. The movement has emerged as a prominent voice in South Africa’s heated immigration debate, calling for action against undocumented foreign nationals.

On Thursday, an explosive claim about arrest warrants rocked the movement after lawyer Xolani Zuma announced that warrants had been issued for him and his wife, Ngobese-Zuma, the movement’s leader.

Zuma said the alleged warrants were related to the activities of the controversial movement, which has campaigned against undocumented immigration. However, his statement did not specify the activities allegedly linked to the warrants, and the claims had not been independently confirmed.

The announcement prompted a defiant response from the movement’s supporters, particularly the thousands who have rallied behind its leadership on social media.

Both the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and KwaZulu-Natal police moved to dismiss the claims. The NPA denied that arrest warrants had been issued for the pair, stressing that prosecutorial decisions were independent and not influenced by political parties, public office-bearers or other individuals.

The NPA said its decisions were guided by the Constitution, legislation and the available evidence.

“As a general principle, the NPA does not normally make comments on matters of operations such as possible arrests and investigations before the law enforcement process involved is completed,” said NPA national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.

The NPA urged individuals and organisations to refrain from making unfounded allegations that could misrepresent or undermine the criminal justice system.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda also dismissed rumours and allegations that arrest warrants had been issued for the leaders of the movement and the South Africa First Forum.

“Police do not react or respond to baseless allegations such as this one,” Netshiunda said.

However, given the situation on the ground and the potential for such allegations to cause panic among residents, police wanted to set the record straight.

Netshiunda said police had no record of a case registered against the two leaders. He urged activists to act responsibly and refrain from making statements that could be considered malicious or reckless, or that had the potential to incite violence.