South African police seek ban on March and March
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
South African police are asking the Durban High Court to ban March and March movement marches and restrict its leaders. Authorities cite recurring violence and difficulty controlling crowds, while the hearing considers the requested preventive measures, reports IOL.
South African police on Friday asked the Durban High Court to ban demonstrations by the March and March movement and restrict the activities of its leaders. They say their officers are regularly overwhelmed by the number of participants, according to IOL.
Lawyer Nalini Govender, representing the Minister of Police and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, said that interventions after violence had begun were no longer enough. She cited the use of rubber bullets and tear gas, which, she said, could not repair the damage already caused.
The application also seeks to prevent protesters from assaulting or intimidating public officials and members of the public. Police say their resources are already under pressure ahead of the elections and that the gatherings, directed against foreign nationals, also affect residents and small businesses.
Judge Peter Olsen asked why police officers had not disarmed participants carrying weapons and made arrests. The hearing concerns an urgent application, while notices of protest cover gatherings scheduled in October 2026, reports IOL.
The application comes after the deployment of 510 soldiers against anti-immigrant violence in KwaZulu-Natal, announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa on 27 October.
