NPA and Police Deny Arrest Warrants for Jacinta and Xolani Zuma

The National Prosecuting Authority and KwaZulu-Natal police have rejected claims that arrest warrants have been issued for March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and her husband, Xolani Zuma, following a week of protests and court appearances in Durban over undocumented immigration.

The dispute centers on a statement released by the movement on Wednesday, October 15, 2026. Lawyer Xolani Zuma announced that warrants had been issued for him and his wife in connection with the controversial movement’s anti-immigration campaigns, alleging the arrests were timed to cause civil unrest ahead of the November 4 local government elections. However, the claims were not independently confirmed, and both law enforcement agencies pushed back against the announcement.

Prosecutory Independence Asserted Against Unfounded Allegations

The National Prosecuting Authority dismissed the assertions in a formal statement on October 15, categorically denying that any arrest warrants existed for the pair. NPA national spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago stressed that prosecutorial decisions are made independently, guided strictly by the Constitution, legislation, and available evidence, rather than by political parties or public office-bearers. Kganyago urged organisations to refrain from making unfounded allegations that could undermine the criminal justice system, noting that the agency does not normally comment on operational matters before legal processes are completed.

Similarly, KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda dismissed the rumours as baseless. Netshiunda confirmed that police hold no record of any criminal case registered against Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma or Xolani Zuma. While acknowledging that officers do not typically respond to groundless rumors, Netshiunda explained that authorities intervened to set the record straight due to the potential for public panic given the tense situation on the ground. He warned activists against making reckless statements that could incite violence and advised anyone suspecting an active warrant to contact police directly for verification.

The public friction followed demonstrations linked to the March and March Movement, which has positioned itself prominently in South Africa’s immigration debate by calling for strict enforcement against undocumented foreign nationals.

Nineteen Affiliates Appear in Durban Court

Nineteen individuals directly or indirectly tied to the movement appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Friday, facing various charges related to public violence. Among them, members Wandile “Method” Nsibande, Sphelele Magolide Shinga, and Malizo Dzanibe faced specific counts of incitement to commit public violence, public violence, and acting in a riotous or physically threatening manner.

According to iol.co.za, those three men were arrested outside the Home Affairs Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Saturday, October 10. The detentions followed a week-long protest against illegal immigration and a recent Constitutional Court ruling on asylum seekers’ applications. Nsibande, who is currently out on parole, encountered additional challenges in his bid for bail during Friday’s proceedings.

Crowds Rally as Legal Proceedings Continue

Ahead of Monday’s court dates, supporters marched from the Home Affairs office on Che Guevara Road to the courthouse to display solidarity with arrested members and students detained following looting incidents in Durban on October 8, as reported by iol.co.za. The courtroom filled to capacity with mainstream journalists, digital podcasters, and movement supporters.

Proceedings saw defense lawyer Xolani Zuma argue that the State was acting out of perceived fear, while prosecutors cautioned certain accused individuals to take the hearing seriously after they were observed laughing during court sessions. With police confirming no open cases against the movement’s top leaders, law enforcement agencies maintain they will continue enforcing the law without engaging in targeted investigations as the case moves through the judicial system.