By Sihle Mavuso
The leader of the March and March movement has told e-hailing drivers in Durban to prepare for a shutdown on 10 November should government proceed with plans to introduce an online registration and appointment system for asylum seekers.
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma was addressed e-hailing drivers and scooter delivery riders on Wednesday night, who had taken part in a protest that afternoon, bringing parts of the city to a standstill.
She thanked them for taking part in the ongoing protests against illegal immigration, saying they were “foot soldiers” of the campaign.
She said that without their participation, the government would not receive March and March’s message about the dangers of illegal immigration.
Ngobese-Zuma told participants to prepare for a bigger protest on 10 November, when she wants a motorcade to bring Durban to a standstill for the entire day.
“We are waiting for the 4th of November (local government elections). You saw the convoy you had today; after November 10, if the government proceeds with its thing (opening an online application for asylum seekers), the cars should have a convoy from the morning and move slowly.
“We repeat that this online system they want to implement should be implemented to help South Africans; if they can implement an online system for foreign nationals, they must implement it to help South Africans who do not have IDs to apply. That’s all we are saying, right,” she told the e-hailing drivers.
The system — which is supposed to be introduced by 10 November — was announced in October by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration, chaired by Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi.
It followed a Constitutional Court judgment on 7 July concerning the rights of asylum seekers who enter South Africa without transit visas, and the subsequent withdrawal of a Home Affairs directive after refugee reception offices were overwhelmed and protests erupted.
Under the system, asylum seekers will register their intention to apply online before receiving a reference number and an appointment at a refugee reception office.
The government has said that the registration receipt will not constitute an asylum seeker visa or confer refugee status.
Separate legislation to allow the remote lodging of asylum applications is being drafted and is expected to be considered by Parliament in the next financial year.
Meanwhile, Lungelo Luthuli, the leader of the e-hailing drivers who participated in Wednesday’s march, said they stood with March and March in its campaign against illegal immigration because the issue also affected them.
He said the drivers had decided to take the day off to participate in the protest, as some were unable to take time off on Thursdays to join the movement’s weekly demonstrations.
“We are not here to show support; let me be clear about that, we are part of the March and March movement, and we are also saying Abahambe (they must go),” Luthuli said on the sidelines of the picket.
INSIDE POLITICS
