In the coming weeks, an intensification of measures to evict illegal immigrants from buildings across the city is expected in Durban. Organizers of marches against illegal immigrants have announced plans to implement a strategy for the eviction and clearing of all buildings in Durban where undocumented migrants reside.
Campaign Details and Steps
The NkosiKhona 'Fakelumtakati' Ndabandaba presented a public plan for further actions following a very successful march held on Tuesday. The organization Insizwa Nobunsizwa, in conjunction with the march led by Jacinta Ngobeze Zuma and Ngizwe Mchunu, is conducting anti-immigrant campaigns nationwide. These efforts culminated in a national stoppage on Tuesday, which set a deadline for all foreign nationals residing in the country illegally to depart.
During the briefing, the following stages of the ongoing campaign were detailed, along with the meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa and the tension caused by this meeting, especially since Ngobeze Zuma did not participate in it, as well as issues concerning South African employment. Fakelumtakati emphasized that the march on Tuesday was just one of many to take place in the coming weeks and months. He added that they aim to go beyond simply holding rallies and are now focused on the practical implementation of their activities.
Focus on the City and Infrastructure
He noted that special attention will be paid to the city of eThekwini. They plan to accompany the police to every building identified as housing for illegal immigrants, demanding their removal. Fakelumtakati pointed out that some buildings were occupied by immigrants with the assistance of municipal officials because these properties belong to the Department of Public Works. He questioned how the immigrants could have learned about the availability of vacant buildings.
According to Ndabandaba, it was not enough for the immigrants to occupy the premises; they became landlords and rented out these buildings for profit without paying for water and electricity. Now, they will demand that these buildings be renovated and provided for the accommodation of South Africans affected by floods. Furthermore, the South Africans housed there should also not have to pay for water and electricity, as the foreign nationals did.
Other Regions and Political Statements
He also mentioned that another focus area will be the town of Stanger (KwaDukuza), calling the situation disgraceful. In Stanger, he stated, drug dealing is occurring near the statue of King Shaka, the founder of KwaZulu-Natal, the king who called for the unification of the Zulu people. He described this as the most painful phenomenon that should cause pain to everyone.
Fakelumtakati also commented on the controversy that arose after the publication of a photograph featuring him, Ngizwe Mchunu, and President Ramaphosa, which appeared just a few hours before the June 30th march. He denied that it was sabotage or ignoring Ngobeze Zuma, and that the meeting was not about receiving money from the president. He stated that while he is not accountable to the leaders of other groups, he highly values Ngobeze Zuma. He recalled that he came to support her when she first held a march in Durban because she is his sister.
Regarding the meeting with the president, he clarified that it is incorrect to claim they met with the president while excluding her. He explained that he was invited by the president, and an invited person cannot invite someone else to a meeting they were invited to. He added that if the president wanted Ngobeze Zuma to attend, he would have invited her. He was invited because the day before, the president met with King Misuzulu, who assured him that there would be no violence since he would be leading the march.
The president requested a meeting and asked if the march could be postponed, to which he replied that this was impossible. He asked for a guarantee of no violence or unrest, and he gave such a guarantee. Additionally, Fakelumtakati touched upon the issue of jobs, stating that the campaign to evict illegal immigrants is bearing fruit, and by the end of the year, it will create about one million jobs. He explained that this will happen in a simple way: companies will dismiss illegal immigrants and fill these positions with South African citizens.
