Understanding the public violence charges against Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's March and March Movement
KwaZulu-Natal police have clarified why they opened a case of public violence against the March and March Movement.
The case was opened against Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma as the leader representing the whole organisation.
“This follows incidents at Addington Primary School in Durban on January 21, amid tensions linked to protest action associated with the March and March Movement,” said KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
The group said they were protesting for South African pupils to be given priority at the school.
Their demonstrations at the education facility began at the start of the new year.
The investigation advanced on Tuesday morning when Ngobese-Zuma voluntarily presented herself at Point police station.
The State also opened cases against the uMkhontho WeSizwe Party (MKP) and Operation Dudula.
“Ngobese-Zuma’s legal representatives reached an agreement with the investigating officer. The three individuals will come together at a later date so that police can obtain their statements,” he said.
Ngobese-Zuma denied the allegations of public violence preferred against her and instead opened counter-charges against the police.
@iolnews Supporters of the March and March Movement blocked the road outside Durban’s Point Police Station, protesting charges against their leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma for allegedly inciting violence. https://iol.co.za/ 📷: Xolile Mtembu / IOL #MarchforMarch #JacintaNgobeseZuma #policestation #Durban ♬ original sound – IOL NEWS
She said the group was very confused and couldn’t figure out exactly what they were charged for.
“Why didn’t they charge us on the day? There were plenty of police officers,” she said after coming out of the station.
She claimed that she and her legal team asked for clarification from the investigative officer, but that there was ”nothing there”.
“It is the State that opened the case against the March and March Movement,” said her legal representative and husband, Xolani Zuma.
Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the chairperson of the African National Congress’s education and health subcommittee in KwaZulu-Natal, said that 63% of the learners at the school were South African.
“The school is currently at full capacity with 1,548 learners. Of those, 968 are South African citizens,” he said.
ActionSA in KZN has thrown its support behind the party’s anti-migrant organisation leader.
The party said it respected the rule of law and due process, but argued that her arrest would not address the underlying crisis at Addington Primary School.
ActionSA’s provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango said the action taken against Ngobese-Zuma ignored deeper systemic failures by the state.
“Arresting her is far from a solution to the crisis unfolding at the school.
“The real crisis in South Africa is not law-abiding citizens protesting for their rights to be put first.
“But a government that has failed to secure the country’s borders and then failed to enforce its own laws,” he said.
IOL News