A foreign national has reportedly been arrested in Durban after allegedly making comments about a plan to kill March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma.
The man was reportedly detained at a Home Affairs refugee reception centre in Durban after allegedly telling other asylum seekers that they should make plans to target the activist. The incident is said to have taken place while people were waiting to apply for asylum-related documentation.
According to reports, the suspect was allegedly overheard discussing the plan while standing in a queue at the Refugee Reception Centre on Moore Road. The circumstances surrounding the alleged conversation have since drawn attention because of the ongoing tensions surrounding immigration and asylum policies in South Africa.
The suspect was described in the original report as being of Arabic origin. He allegedly discussed targeting Ngobese-Zuma, who has become a prominent figure in protests and public campaigns opposing the government’s approach to the reopening of the asylum application system.
The alleged remarks reportedly resulted in the man’s detention shortly after they were overheard. Details about the exact charges he may face, however, were not immediately available.
The incident comes at a time when tensions have increased around refugee reception centres in Durban. March and March has been involved in protests focusing on undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and the government’s immigration policies.
Ngobese-Zuma has been particularly vocal on the issue and has emerged as one of the prominent figures associated with the organisation’s campaigns. Her public stance has also attracted threats.
In a separate development, Ngobese-Zuma reportedly opened a criminal case after allegedly receiving threats on social media calling for her rape and death. The latest reported incident at the refugee centre has therefore raised further concerns about her safety.
The alleged plot has not been independently verified, and the arrest does not mean that the suspect has been found guilty of any offence. The allegations will have to be tested through the legal process, while investigators are expected to establish exactly what was said, whether there was an intention to carry out a violent act and whether anyone else was involved.
The arrest also highlights the heightened emotions surrounding South Africa’s immigration debate. Refugee reception centres have become important points of tension as government policies, asylum applications and concerns about undocumented migration continue to attract strong reactions from different groups.
Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine what action should follow. Until the investigation and any court proceedings are concluded, the allegations against the arrested man remain unproven.
The case is likely to receive further attention as the authorities establish whether the alleged comments represented a genuine threat or were simply remarks made during an increasingly tense debate over immigration and asylum policies.
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