Helen Zille’s meeting with leaders of the March and March movement has drawn attention inside the Democratic Alliance as pressure grows over illegal immigration ahead of a 30 June deadline.
According to IOL, March and March leaders told Zille that DA ministers in Home Affairs and Basic Education must act urgently on undocumented foreign nationals. The meeting has also raised questions about whether she had a party mandate to engage the movement.
March and March Urges DA Ministers To Act
A senior March and March leader told IOL that the movement gave Zille “solutions” and expected her to pass them to DA ministers. The group’s proposals included halting the processing of refugee applications and improving the tracking of undocumented foreign nationals.
The demand comes as the movement’s 30 June 2026 deadline approaches. SABC News, EWN and GroundUp have reported that March and March wants government to act against undocumented immigration before the end of June.
Official government information states that the Department of Home Affairs manages asylum and refugee applications in South Africa. The department is led by Leon Schreiber, a DA MP, while Basic Education is led by Siviwe Gwarube, also a DA MP, according to official government and departmental profiles.
DA Questions Zille’s Role In Talks
IOL reported that some DA insiders questioned why Zille attended the March and March meeting without formal party approval. One unnamed DA source told IOL that Zille “had no right or mandate” to meet the group.
Zille defended the meeting, according to IOL, saying the request came from March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. She said she regularly meets people who hold different views.
The DA elected Geordin Hill-Lewis as its federal leader in April 2026, replacing John Steenhuisen. Zille no longer holds the party leadership role, although she remains one of the DA’s most prominent public figures.
Government and Civil Society Response
GroundUp reported in May that ministers in the justice, crime prevention and security cluster met March and March and other groups over rising anti-immigration protests. Ministers said illegal immigration was a concern, but warned against violent action.
EWN reported that foreign nationals had expressed fear over the 30 June deadline. Meanwhile, IOL has reported that Ngobese-Zuma urged supporters to avoid violence and looting during planned action linked to the campaign.
No verified public response from Schreiber or Gwarube to the specific demands raised in the Helen Zille March and March meeting could be found by publication time.