By Sihle Mavuso
Former Ukhozi FM presenter and SABC1 Roots host turned activist Ngizwe Mchunu has poured cold water on the decision by March and March to suspend its working relationship with him, saying people cannot “march forever” as that would not be good for the economy.
Mchunu also announced that he would continue to be on the front lines in the fight against undocumented immigration, even though the movement led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma announced on Monday that it would no longer work with him, pending further investigations.
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The movement said its decision followed concerns that politicians and businesspeople were attempting to “capture” and destabilise it. It did not provide detailed evidence supporting the allegations or identify those allegedly involved.
“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 movement said in a statement on Monday.
The decision followed controversy over a closed-door meeting in Pretoria between President Cyril Ramaphosa, Mchunu and Nkosikhona Phakelumthakathi Ndabandaba on the eve of the 30 June protests.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa had urged the activists to ensure that the demonstrations remained peaceful. The movement has not publicly produced evidence linking the President to its allegations that political and business interests were attempting to interfere with it.
Late on Monday, Mchunu responded in a six-minute video posted on social media, setting out his side of the story and the way forward.
“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.
“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 also criticised Ngobese-Zuma and Ndabandaba.
“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. So, where someone is weaker, someone has to protect each other, someone has to elevate each other. So, this is the position I am taking,” he said.
He announced that he would be in Gauteng later in the week to continue campaigning against undocumented immigration.
“[W]e are serious about liberating our own country called South Africa,” he said.
Mchunu said he would be in Gauteng on 30 July to hear what the provincial government had done after receiving the 30 June memorandum on undocumented and illegal foreigners.
