Civil rights group AfriForum and the anti-illegal immigration movement March and March held talks today Tuesday and agreed to form a collaborative working group focused on community-level issues.
A March and March delegation led by founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma met AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel and senior officials. The organisations said they discussed shared challenges arising from government failures, including weak border control, high crime, and shortcomings in public education.
They identified possible areas of cooperation: organising communities, capacity-building projects to improve socio-economic conditions within the law, mother-tongue and accessible education, and promoting peaceful coexistence. They also agreed to jointly examine legal matters of mutual interest and support one another on the rule of law and crime, including illegal immigration.
Jacinta said her group, which recently announced it would remain a civic organisation rather than enter party politics and aims to model itself on AfriForum, wanted to learn advocacy, legal, and funding strategies. “We’re working with anyone who’s a South African,” she said, adding that differences exist but the relationship would rest on mutual respect. She stressed that a united South Africa must be based on ubuntu, respect for cultural and religious beliefs, and the rule of law.
Kriel said AfriForum already works with a range of communities and organisations. Differences should not block cooperation where interests overlap, he added, and AfriForum was prepared to share openly what has worked in building its membership over 20 years.
Both sides confirmed that community interests must be pursued peacefully and within the law, and that violence and intimidation have no place in their efforts. The meeting follows March and March’s recent Durban demonstration targeting SADC leaders over undocumented migrants and its stated plan to launch a legal advocacy body, the SA First Forum.