March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma is fighting a police bid to curb her group's protests in Durban. She says officers should keep crowds safe, not decide whether people can march. And she wants the courts to uphold that right.
Outside Durban High Court, Ngobese-Zuma pushed back against a case brought by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The pair want a final court order limiting where the movement can hold rallies.
The proposed ban covers central Durban, Berea, and streets near the refugee office on Che Guevara Road, once called Moore Road. It also targets Jacinta's husband, Xolani Zuma, and other group members.
Authorities want to block threats, attacks, theft, fires, and damage to shops or public offices. Forcing stores to shut or keeping people out of buildings would fall under the order as well.
Police cite intelligence about threats near the refugee center. They also fear further clashes after a foreign national was killed in central Durban. Those concerns form part of the push for urgent court action.
But Ngobese-Zuma says her group has done its part. She claims organizers alert police before each protest, giving officers a chance to prepare. Movement members even met senior SAPS staff to discuss how both sides could work together.
Her view is that talks make more sense than court bans. She also argues that the dispute may test how far the state can go when it seeks to limit public protests. Past Constitutional Court rulings form part of her argument.
South Africa's Constitution protects peaceful gatherings under Section 17, as long as participants carry no weapons. The Regulation of Gatherings Act also sets rules for giving advance notice to help police manage crowds.
March and March has held several rallies over immigration controls, often near the refugee office. Some events have led to clashes, disruption, and reports of damaged property. Three members face criminal counts tied to alleged threats, violence, and calls for public disorder.
Another claim about the group had already caused a stir. Rumors of arrest warrants for Jacinta and Xolani were rejected by both police and prosecutors. Officials said their records held no criminal case against the couple and warned against claims that might stir panic.
Politics has entered the dispute as well. Ngobese-Zuma has urged voters to turn against the African National Congress, which she blames for failing to address the movement's concerns.
The judges must weigh the request for limits against the legal right to gather without violence. They may also consider an interim order as the case moves forward. For March and March, the fight is still about keeping its protests legal, while police argue that public safety requires firm limits.
Outside Durban High Court, Ngobese-Zuma pushed back against a case brought by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The pair want a final court order limiting where the movement can hold rallies.
The proposed ban covers central Durban, Berea, and streets near the refugee office on Che Guevara Road, once called Moore Road. It also targets Jacinta's husband, Xolani Zuma, and other group members.
Authorities want to block threats, attacks, theft, fires, and damage to shops or public offices. Forcing stores to shut or keeping people out of buildings would fall under the order as well.
Police cite intelligence about threats near the refugee center. They also fear further clashes after a foreign national was killed in central Durban. Those concerns form part of the push for urgent court action.
But Ngobese-Zuma says her group has done its part. She claims organizers alert police before each protest, giving officers a chance to prepare. Movement members even met senior SAPS staff to discuss how both sides could work together.
Her view is that talks make more sense than court bans. She also argues that the dispute may test how far the state can go when it seeks to limit public protests. Past Constitutional Court rulings form part of her argument.
South Africa's Constitution protects peaceful gatherings under Section 17, as long as participants carry no weapons. The Regulation of Gatherings Act also sets rules for giving advance notice to help police manage crowds.
March and March has held several rallies over immigration controls, often near the refugee office. Some events have led to clashes, disruption, and reports of damaged property. Three members face criminal counts tied to alleged threats, violence, and calls for public disorder.
Another claim about the group had already caused a stir. Rumors of arrest warrants for Jacinta and Xolani were rejected by both police and prosecutors. Officials said their records held no criminal case against the couple and warned against claims that might stir panic.
Politics has entered the dispute as well. Ngobese-Zuma has urged voters to turn against the African National Congress, which she blames for failing to address the movement's concerns.
The judges must weigh the request for limits against the legal right to gather without violence. They may also consider an interim order as the case moves forward. For March and March, the fight is still about keeping its protests legal, while police argue that public safety requires firm limits.
