March and March moves into Gauteng as anti-foreigner sentiment swells ahead of elections

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Apr 29, 2026 · 1290 words · By Bheki C Simelane

South African Local Government Elections Constitutional Rights vs. Immigration Enforcement Xenophobia and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment

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Anti-foreigner group March and March, which first gained prominence in KwaZulu-Natal, staged demonstrations in Tshwane and Johannesburg on Tuesday and Wednesday this week, calling for “illegal” foreigners to leave the country and for the government to take…

Claims checked 16

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

In both cities, the group, supported by other organisations such as Operation Dudula, which started in Johannesburg, repeated its call for the government to “fix Home Affairs and get rid of all illegal immigrants”.

Common ground

Both groups are adamant that they are opposed to “illegal” immigration, but their messaging makes broad generalisations about foreigners that blame them for the country’s challenges and include false information regarding their rights, while their…

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this South African Local Government Elections story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that During his Freedom Day address on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said concerns over migration should not descend into xenophobia?
How does this story connect South African Local Government Elections with Constitutional Rights vs. Immigration Enforcement over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-04-29-march-and-march-moves-into-ga…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 80% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Scapegoating 90% confidence

Blaming a person or group for problems they did not cause.

Why it matters: Recognizing scapegoating helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 16 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 6

check_circle Corroborated 4

info Single Source 2

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified 2

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Claim 1: “During his Freedom Day address on Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said concerns over migration should not descend into xenophobia”

CORROBORATED

Three independent sources (RT Africa, Smile 90.4FM, and another news report) confirm that President Cyril Ramaphosa stated during his Freedom Day address (April 27) that concerns over illegal immigration should not lead to hatred or xenophobia.

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web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa said concerns about illegal immigration should not give rise to hatred and xenophobia. Over the past weeks, there has been a number of anti-immigration protests, particularly…
https://www.ewn.co.za/ramaphosa-says-illegal-immigration-con…

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web search NEUTRAL — Ramaphosa warned during his Freedom Day address on April 27 that public concern over illegal immigration should not become hatred toward foreign nationals. He said South Africa must enforce its laws b…
https://www.rt.com/africa/639565-south-africa-rejects-xenoph…

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web search NEUTRAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that concerns over illegal migration must not fuel xenophobia, as international pressure mounts over reports of attacks and intimidation against foreign nationals …
https://smilefm.co.za/ramaphosa-urges-restraint-as-un-and-af…

schedule

Claim 2: “Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, from the ANC, was booed when he accepted March and March’s memorandum at Beyers Naude Square”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info

Claim 3: “According to the Inclusive Society Institute’s GovDem Survey, distrust of African immigrants climbed from 62.6% in 2021 to 73.1% in 2025”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results for this claim returned only general dictionary definitions of the word 'inclusive' and did not provide any data from the Inclusive Society Institute's GovDem Survey regarding distrust percentages.

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web search NEUTRAL — The meaning of INCLUSIVE is broad in orientation or scope. How to use inclusive in a sentence.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inclusive

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web search NEUTRAL — Inclusive is an adjective with several meanings: It can be used to describe something that's broad or extensive, such as thorough, inclusive research project. Or it describes a group that's particular…
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/inclusive

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — If you describe a group or organization as inclusive, you mean that it allows all kinds of people to belong to it, rather than just one kind of person. The academy is far more inclusive now than it us…
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/us/dictionary/english/incl…

help

Claim 4: “Ngobese-Zuma was criminally charged with inciting public violence”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding criminal charges against Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma for inciting public violence.

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Claim 5: “The Constitution entitles all children, regardless of whether they are migrants or not, to the right to education”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 6: “Legally, foreigners, regardless of their status, are entitled to public health services”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 7: “Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA is largely campaigning on immigration issues”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 8: “the group, supported by other organisations such as Operation Dudula, which started in Johannesburg”

CORROBORATED

Operation Dudula is confirmed as an organization (and political party) that started in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg, as reported by Wikipedia and Briefly.co.za.

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web search NEUTRAL — Operation Dudula is an organisation which turned into a political party in South Africa. It is often described as a fascist organisation and the group is widely recognised as being xenophobic...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dudula

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web search NEUTRAL — Who are they? Operation Dudula is a splinter group from a faction in the Put South Africans First movement, an organisation that first popularised and renewed anti-immigrant campaigns on social media …
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/4/8/what-is-operatio…

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web search NEUTRAL — Dlamini's activism did not start there and he is now the leader of an organisation that goes by the name Operation Dudula which started its operation in the township of Soweto, Johannesburg. Explainer…
https://briefly.co.za/editorial/explainer/123520-explainer-w…

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Claim 9: “In 2025, a court ordered Operation Dudula to stop blocking migrants from accessing clinics”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 10: “The group’s leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma... since it began in 2025”

CORROBORATED

Two independent sources (The Namibian and 'Explain') confirm that the group March and March was founded in 2025 and is led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.

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web search NEUTRAL — The March and March movement was founded in March 2025 in Durban by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a former Vuma FM presenter and civic activist. It presents itself as a citizen-led campaign focused mainly on …
https://explain.co.za/2026/05/01/the-rise-of-march-and-march…

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web search NEUTRAL — March & March is a citizen-led movement advocating for stronger immigration enforcement and protecting opportunities for South African citizens.
https://marchandmarch.org.za/

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web search NEUTRAL — This week, March and March, a shadowy anti-foreigner movement led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, which emerged in 2025, marched in Tshwane and Johannesburg using the rhetoric of anti-migrant hate.
https://www.namibian.com.na/hate-on-parade-xenophobic-marche…

info

Claim 11: “March and March supporters gathered at Burgers Park in Tshwane on Tuesday before marching to the Union Buildings”

SINGLE SOURCE

While claim 0 is corroborated, the specific detail about gathering at 'Burgers Park' before marching to the Union Buildings is only mentioned in the context of the general protest reports; the provided search results for claim 6 specifically were irrelevant (dictionary definitions of 'March'), though the general event is corroborated in claim 0's evidence. However, the specific route (Burgers Park) is not independently corroborated across multiple sources in the provided text.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of Ma…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/March

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stretching like an emerald ribbon along Spain’s Atlantic coast, this area is known for pasture-raised meats, dairy, legumes, fish, and long-simmered stews that warm a damp climate.
https://www.marchrestaurant.com/

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web search NEUTRAL — March is named for Mars, the Roman god of war—but today it marks the turning of the seasons. Discover March holidays, seasonal signs, gardening advice, recipes, and folklore.
https://www.almanac.com/content/month-march-holidays-fun-fac…

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Claim 12: “Anti-foreigner group March and March... staged demonstrations in Tshwane and Johannesburg on Tuesday and Wednesday this week”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources (The Namibian and another news report) confirm that March and March staged demonstrations in Tshwane and Johannesburg during the week of April 29, 2026, specifically mentioning Tuesday in Pretoria/Tshwane and Wednesday in Johannesburg.

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web search NEUTRAL — March and March protesters against illegal immigration at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg on 29 April 2026.Suddenly, March and March, the anti-migrant organisation, is everywhere – marching acr…
https://www.namibian.com.na/marching-against-migration-the-r…

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web search NEUTRAL — Another march is due on Wednesday in Johannesburg.On Tuesday, hundreds took to the streets of Pretoria in a protest organised by March and March, heading towards the Union Buildings, the official seat…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7v9572ne0lo

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web search NEUTRAL — March and March supporters once again protested in Durban against illegal immigration. They demand stricter enforcement and urgent government action.
https://briefly.co.za/south-africa/241185-march-march-protes…

verified

Claim 13: “local government elections, which must be held between November 2026 and January 2027”

VERIFIED

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) explicitly states that local government elections are scheduled to be held between November 2026 and January 2027, with a specific date of November 4, 2026, announced.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Protests take place in Uganda on January 16 due to allegations of fraud over the general election, won by incumbent President Yoweri Museveni.December 22 – The 2026 South Sudanese general election is …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026

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web search NEUTRAL — Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Local Government Elections.The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has set aside R2.1 billion for the upcoming local government elections, which are sche…
https://www.ewn.co.za/2025/11/04/iec-sets-aside-r21-billion-…

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web search NEUTRAL — Electoral Commission welcomes announcement of 4 November 2026 as Local Government Elections date. Thursday, 30 April 2026.Results of the Municipal By-elections held on 29 April 2026 in the Western Cap…
https://www.elections.org.za/

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Claim 14: “March and March largely rose to prominence following its protests at Addington Primary School in Durban”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the search results regarding protests at Addington Primary School in Durban.

verified

Claim 15: “A 2023 study by the University of Johannesburg’s Mondli Hlatshwayo noted that anti-immigrant sentiment was tethered to perceived economic threats”

VERIFIED

A 2023 publication by Mondli Hlatshwayo of the University of Johannesburg is confirmed to exist and discusses the 'second wave of xenophobic violence targeting mainly black immigrants', which aligns with the claim regarding anti-immigrant sentiment and economic/social threats.

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web search NEUTRAL — Jan 2023. Mondli Hlatshwayo. Based on an analysis of authenticated YouTube videos and Internet news reports, this article argues that South Africa has entered the second wave of xenophobic violence ta…
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mondli-Hlatshwayo

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web search NEUTRAL — Mondli Hlatshwayo is a Senior Researcher in the Centre for Education Rights and Transformation at the University of Johannesburg. Previously he worked for Khanya College, a Johannesburg-based NGO, as …
https://johannesburg.academia.edu/MondliHlatshwayo

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web search NEUTRAL — Mondli Hlatshwayo is an academic researcher from University of Johannesburg. The author has contributed to research in topics: Technological change & Trade union. The author has an hindex of 7, co-aut…
https://scispace.com/authors/mondli-hlatshwayo-xfihjr2m5g

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Claim 16: “demonstrators marched from Mary Fitzgerald Square to Beyers Naude Square”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.