The Deputy President of the Independent South African National Civic Organisation (ISANCO), Dr Ntsizakalo Ngalo, who faces a possible criminal charge following an anti-illegal immigration march in Mbizana, Eastern Cape. The organisation says the demonstration was lawful and aimed at presenting community grievances to local authorities over undocumented foreign nationals in the area.
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The Independent South African National Civic Organisation (ISANCO) has condemned the opening of a police case against its deputy president, Dr Ntsizakalo Ngalo, following an anti-illegal immigration protest in Mbizana in the Eastern Cape.
In a statement released on Friday, ISANCO said it was disappointed by what it described as the “unjust actions” of a police officer who allegedly opened a case against Ngalo after a march organised by a movement known as The People for Change.
The organisation argued that South Africans have a constitutional right to protest, march and submit memorandums to authorities, provided the demonstrations comply with the Regulation of Gatherings Act.
The march in Mbizana was organised by The People for Change, a coalition of local structures advocating for the removal of undocumented immigrants from the area. The movement is chaired by Ngalo, who is also ISANCO’s mayoral candidate for the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality.
According to ISANCO, the purpose of the demonstration was to hand over a memorandum of grievances to Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Municipality executive mayor, Daniswa Mafumbatha.
The organisation claimed residents were frustrated by what they viewed as years of inadequate action against undocumented foreign nationals in the town.
ISANCO further linked the Mbizana march to a growing wave of anti-illegal immigration campaigns across South Africa, involving groups such as Operation Dudula, March and March, as well as political organisations and activists advocating stricter immigration enforcement.
The civic body accused the police of abusing their powers and warned that it would closely monitor developments surrounding the case against Ngalo.
“Our organisation and its stakeholders will never allow the abuse of power by violating the civil rights of Dr Ntsizakalo Ngalo,” the statement read.
The South African Police Service has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
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