South African Activist Rejects Official Illegal Immigration Data

Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma, leader of the March and March movement, has dismissed South Africa's official illegal immigration figures as impossible to believe ^[1].

This dispute highlights a growing divide between government data and the perceptions of grassroots activists. The tension reflects broader frustrations over economic instability and the perceived failure of state border controls to manage the flow of undocumented people into the country ^[2].

Ngobese‑Zuma said that the true number of undocumented migrants is far higher than what the government reports ^[1]. She said that underestimating the scale of migration fuels social tension and leads to policy missteps ^[2].

These claims come amid a volatile economic climate. South Africa currently faces an unemployment rate of 32.7% ^[2]. This lack of job security has often been linked to resentment toward foreign nationals, who some activists argue compete for scarce resources, and employment opportunities ^[2].

The March and March movement, which was active during March 2024, has been a central part of this backlash ^[2]. The movement's activities and the surrounding social climate have had a measurable impact on the foreign population. Reports indicate that over 160,000 immigrants have fled South Africa as a result of the March and March movement ^[2].

Ngobese‑Zuma continues to push for a revision of how the state tracks and reports migration. She said that official statistics do not reflect the reality on the ground, a discrepancy she believes prevents the government from addressing the root causes of the migration crisis ^[1].