South African podcaster and commentator Penuel Mlotshwa has weighed in on the decision by March and March to work with AfriForum, warning that the collaboration could be a strategic mistake for the anti-illegal-immigration movement.
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His comments come after March and March and AfriForum recently agreed to cooperate on areas of mutual interest, including legal matters, the rule of law and community safety.
March and March and AfriForum join forces
March and March, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has gained prominence through its campaigns and protests against illegal immigration.
According to Newsday, the organisation recently indicated that it wants to build itself into a civic organisation modelled partly on AfriForum, including establishing structures focused on litigation and humanitarian work.
The two organisations subsequently held discussions about potential cooperation.
According to AfriForum, the meeting covered community-based solutions, education, safety and the rule of law. They also agreed to explore working together on legal matters of mutual interest and issues involving crime and illegal immigration.
Jacinta has stressed that the collaboration does not mean March and March agrees with everything AfriForum stands for. She said the organisation wants to learn from AfriForum’s approach to advocacy, fundraising and institution-building while maintaining its own identity and positions.
Penuel Mlotshwa raises concerns
Penuel, popularly known as Penuel The Black Pen, has criticised the decision, arguing that March and March could damage its own credibility by aligning itself with AfriForum.
In his view, the partnership could have consequences for how March and March is perceived by the broader South African public and could undermine the movement’s ability to build support across different communities.
Penuel’s criticism comes as the partnership has already generated debate online, with South Africans expressing differing opinions about the two organisations working together.
The commentator believes March and March should carefully consider what it could gain from the relationship against what it could potentially lose.
Why I DO NOT Support March and March working with Afriforum.
Penuel The Black Pen
19 August 2026Precursor: I was an Afriforum paying member for a year or 2, because I supported the building of skills institution Soltech, because they were supporting Senzo Meyiwa’s family… pic.twitter.com/qxJBJxzLIh
— Penuel The Black Pen (@penuelist_) August 19, 2026
Also see: Penuel Mlotshwa faces the public’s fury after insensitive comments regarding Cwecwe case
Why the partnership has sparked debate
March and March and AfriForum have different histories, constituencies and areas of focus.
AfriForum describes itself as a civil rights organisation focused particularly on protecting minority communities and says it has more than 300,000 supporters and 165 branches.
March and March, meanwhile, has positioned itself around the interests of South Africans and has become particularly vocal about illegal immigration.
The movement has previously said it wants to establish an organisation similar to AfriForum that can provide legal assistance, build institutions and empower South Africans to understand and exercise their rights.
For Penuel, however, learning from another organisation does not necessarily require forming a working relationship with it.
His concerns add another voice to an ongoing national conversation about whether organisations with different ideological backgrounds can collaborate on shared issues without compromising their identities or alienating their supporters.
March and March maintains its position
Despite the criticism, Jacinta has defended the decision to engage with AfriForum.
She has acknowledged that the organisations have political and ideological differences but argued that March and March can learn from AfriForum’s experience in building an established civic organisation.
The partnership is therefore likely to remain a subject of debate as March and March develops its new civic structures and defines its relationship with other organisations.
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