March and March vows to intensify protests if June 30 self-deportation deadline is not met

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma of March and March.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of the anti-illegal immigration group March and March, calls for accountability as protests escalate ahead of the June 30 self-deportation deadline for illegal immigrants in South Africa, writes YOSHINI PERUMAL

AS THOUSANDS of foreign nationals scramble to flee South Africa ahead of the June 30, self-deportation deadline, anti-illegal immigration group March and March has vowed to intensify their protests if the deadline is not met.

In an interview with the POST this week, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said that while it was “obvious that not all illegal immigrants would be out of the country by June 30,” the deadline was provided to encourage self-deportation and fast-track government action.

“Clearly, this process is daunting. But the main point is that by June 30, they (illegal immigrants) must be gone. It is sad that thousands of people have to resort to living outside until this issue is resolved. But what is even sadder is that they were working here, exploited for cheap labour, and now that they need to go home, they cannot afford to.