Anti-immigration groups have accused the government of attempting to silence them after their representatives were removed from the National Dialogue.
The groups say the dialogue process has stalled since a contentious national convention held at Unisa earlier this year, which reportedly descended into a heated exchange and forced organisers to postpone the remainder of the programme. The next phase was expected to consist of community-based mass meetings, where South Africans would contribute ideas on the future direction of the country.
The groups, which have recently operated as a united front under the March and March movement, said in a joint statement that their three nominated representatives were removed without explanation or due process.
“Immigration Sector wishes to inform the public that its duly nominated representatives have been removed from participation in the National Dialogue without consultation with the sector and without any lawful process being followed,” the groups said in a statement on Sunday.
The three representatives are Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, March and March leader Gordon Lesley Rolls, and Mamile Sikhosana.
The groups have since launched an urgent court application seeking to have the representatives reinstated.
“To protect the rights of the sector and preserve the integrity of the National Dialogue, an urgent application has been filed in the High Court seeking appropriate relief against the implementation of these removal decisions,” they said.
The matter has been opposed on behalf of the President by the State Attorney.
The groups claim their representatives have actively participated in the National Dialogue since their nomination in March 2026, attending meetings, contributing to discussions and representing what they describe as one of the largest citizen sectors involved in the process.
They further argue that administrators cited the absence of formal appointment letters signed by the President as the reason for their removal, which they have rejected as “irrational and procedurally unfair”.
“Administrative delays outside the control of nominated representatives cannot lawfully justify the exclusion of an entire sector from a citizen-led national process,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the government has denied ignoring concerns raised by South Africans regarding illegal immigration. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said this week that measures addressing issues raised during Tuesday’s nationwide protests were already under way.