Addington Primary protest: Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma facing public violence charge

The South African state has opened a case of alleged public violence against the March and March movement, with its leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, facing potential prosecution in her representative capacity, according to her husband and legal representative, Xolani Zuma.

Speaking on the matter, Zuma clarified that Ngobese-Zuma has not been charged as a private individual, but rather as the leader of the movement. Ngobese-Zuma presented herself at the Point police station on Tuesday after she said she was informed that she was going to be arrested.

“Ms Ngobese-Zuma has not been charged as an individual, but the March and March Movement has been charged by the State,” he said.

“There is no private individual that has opened the case. It is the State that has opened the case against the March and March Movement.”

Zuma explained that the charges relate to allegations of public violence, stemming from events that allegedly occurred on January 21, 2026 outside the Addington Primary School in the Durban CBD.

The State alleges that violence was incited against immigrants during the protest according to Zuma. 

He added that other political actors have also been charged including the MK Party.

According to Zuma, police are currently taking a warning statement, after which the matter will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for a decision.

“If the NPA says there is a case to be answered, then the matter will then be taken to court for prosecution,” he said.

“But if the NPA believes that there is not enough evidence to prosecute her, then the charges will be withdrawn.”

He added that he hoped that a decision on the charges would be finalised so they could proceed to apply for bail.

Ngobese-Zuma, speaking outside Point Police Station on Tuesday, questioned why she was being targeted, saying there was evidence of police aggression during the protest.

“There is video evidence of police unleashing stun grenades and pouring water on us,” she said.

She further alleged that an armed individual linked to the authorities threatened protesters.

“There was also a person who pulled out a gun on members of March and March, and that person works for the authorities. Yet they have decided that I am the one they want to open a case against,” she said.

Ngobese-Zuma challenged police to clarify the basis of the allegations against her. “I want to know what the case is about. When did I instigate violence?” she asked. “Is standing outside a school, picketing and demanding that the rights of South Africans be protected, instigating violence?”

She said the protest outside Addington Primary School was intended to highlight what she described as the exclusion of South African children from school placements. The KZN education department has said the majority (63%) of pupils at the school are locals. 

“If standing in front of a gate and saying that 26 children are sitting at home because they don’t have space while undocumented foreign nationals have space, is instigating violence, then I am instigating violence,” she said.

The March and March Movement has led protests calling for stricter immigration enforcement and tougher action against crime, arguing that illegal immigration places strain on public services such as schools, hospitals, and housing. 

Despite the possibility of prosecution, Ngobese-Zuma said she would continue her activism. “I am not a criminal. I am standing up for my people and for children who are being denied education,” she said.

Meanwhile, civil society organisation SAROF–South Africa has welcomed law enforcement action. Its country chairperson, Jean Madel Butoki, said accountability was necessary in cases of incitement and intimidation. In a statement, SAROF said: “Law enforcement agencies must investigate, arrest, and prosecute individuals and groups of people responsible for inciting violence, intimidation, and the obstruction of children’s access to education, including leaders of March and March and allied groups.”

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