By Celani Sikhakhane
- Marchers in Nquthu wrongly believed Malawian healer Phiri was an illegal immigrant before Inkosi Thathezakhe Ngobese stepped in to protect him.
- The Nquthu Municipality told March and March activists it does not have money to deport undocumented foreign nationals.
A Malawian traditional healer in Nquthu was nearly targeted by an angry crowd during an anti-immigration march on Tuesday, despite being legally documented to live and work in South Africa.
The march was part of nationwide protests against undocumented foreign nationals. It began at the home of the healer, known as Phiri. Marchers believed he was in the country illegally.
Phiri was protected by Inkosi Thathezakhe Ngobese of kwaKhiphinkunzi, traditional leader of the Ngobese clan. Ngobese does not support the March and March movement.
March and March activist Zipho Hlatshwayo said the group wants undocumented immigrants to leave Nquthu, accusing many of them of being involved in drugs.
“We also called on the housing unit in Nquthu to deal with people who are renting out RDP houses to illegal immigrants,” he said.
“This is a peaceful call, and we want those houses to be given to those who need them.”
The Nquthu Local Municipality told the activists it does not have the money to deport undocumented foreign nationals, after they asked for help removing migrants who run shops and rent RDP houses in the area.
In Durban, March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma accused the government of failing citizens on drugs and human trafficking, while spending R600 million policing the nationwide marches.
Five people were arrested for break-ins at foreign-owned tuck shops across KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday. Three suspects were caught by private security at the scene and handed to police. Two more were arrested at Madiba informal settlement in Mountain Rise.
A fifth suspect was arrested in Thubalethu, Melmoth, after allegedly storming a home and threatening foreign nationals with a stick before stealing their belongings.
Despite calls for marchers not to carry weapons, many dressed in Zulu traditional attire carried sticks and shields.
Pictured above: The community of Nquthu in northern KwaZulu-Natal marches against illegal immigration.
Image source: March and March
