Ngizwe Mchunu turns against Jacinta

Activist and former Ukhozi FM presenter Ngizwe Mchunu has dismissed the decision by the March and March movement to suspend its working relationship with him, saying protest action cannot continue indefinitely and that prolonged demonstrations would harm South Africa's economy.

Speaking in a six-minute video posted on social media on Monday, Mchunu said he would continue campaigning against undocumented immigration despite the movement's decision to distance itself from him pending further investigations.

"The fact is that in as much as we have not got all what we wanted, but we can't march forever. That is a fact that will always be there and nothing but the truth. We are not aiming to collapse the economy," he said.

The March and March movement announced on Monday that it had resolved to suspend its association with Mchunu while it investigates concerns that politicians and business figures were allegedly attempting to influence and destabilise the organisation.

In a statement, the movement said the decision was reached after considering information before its leadership and engaging stakeholders.

"Having considered the facts before us, juxtaposed with our founding principles and values espoused in our founding mission statement, having attempted to engage with all our stakeholders, the Movement has accordingly resolved that pending further investigations, it will not be working with Mr Ngizwe Mchunu," the statement read.

The movement did not publicly provide evidence supporting its claims or identify the politicians or businesspeople it alleged were seeking to interfere with its activities.

The decision follows controversy surrounding a closed-door meeting held in Pretoria on the eve of the June 30 protests between President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mchunu and fellow activist Nkosikhona "Phakelumthakathi" Ndabandaba.

The Presidency said President Ramaphosa used the meeting to encourage the activists to ensure that planned demonstrations remained peaceful.

Responding to the suspension, Mchunu also criticised March and March leaders Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and Ndabandaba, suggesting that they lacked his experience in activism.

"I am saying this as a senior, as someone who knows how to be imprisoned. My brothers and sisters whom we are together in this fight, MaNgobese (Jacinta) and Phakela (Ndabandaba), have never been behind bars and they are junior to me," he said.

Mchunu further claimed that the pair were overly focused on publicity.

"They are excited about every situation, limelight, relevance and everything. I am no longer excited, I know what to do and when to do it," he said.

Despite the fallout, Mchunu said he remained committed to campaigning against undocumented immigration and announced that he would travel to Gauteng on July 30 to assess the provincial government's response to a memorandum submitted during the June 30 demonstrations.

"We are serious about liberating our own country called South Africa," he said.

The developments expose growing divisions within the March and March movement as it continues its campaign on immigration and other socio-political issues.