March and March Movement leadership is angry after the Department of Home Affairs released a new directive about asylum seekers.
The leader of March and March, Jacinta MaNgobese Zuma, went live on Facebook and said “Manje sizoythini lento” while reacting to the new rule. Her video posted on 6 October has gone viral.
What Did Home Affairs Say?
Home Affairs says it is following a Constitutional Court ruling from 7 July 2026. The case is Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town vs Minister of Home Affairs.
The court said the old law that blocked people because they entered illegally was wrong. The ruling took effect immediately.
Home Affairs has now told all 5 Refugee Reception Offices in Pretoria, Durban, Musina, Cape Town and Gqeberha that they must receive every person who comes in person and says they want to apply for asylum.
The directive says officials can no longer refuse people because they entered without papers, came through the fence, or have no passport.
What Does It Mean In Simple Words?
Before, if you runned into South Africa with no passport and no papers, Home Affairs would chase you away and not let you apply.
Now the rule says even if you have no passport or you runned through the fence, you can come and say “Please protect me, I want asylum” and they MUST listen and give you a chance to apply.
It does NOT mean you get refugee papers, South African ID or citizenship automatically. It only means you can ASK. Home Affairs will still check your story.
Home Affairs said claims that this judgment grants citizenship are “categorically false” and warned about fake news. The department said it has referred disinformation to the IEC.
What Did March and March Leadership Say?
March and March leader Jacinta Zuma said this will open the door for many people who have been living without papers to now claim asylum.
She said South Africa has over 4 million people without IDs because their identities were stolen, but Home Affairs is focusing on asylum seekers.