The March and March movement says it will intensify its nationwide Thursday marches in the wake of the fatal shooting of its Gauteng leader, Andile Mvuyelwa Somgxada, and what it describes as a widening pattern of threats aimed at intimidating its organisers across several provinces.
The movement’s national spokesperson, Sandile Dube, said Somgxada — who led March and March in Greenfields, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng — was shot on 4 July as he was leaving his home. He was taken to hospital, where he fought for his life for several days before dying on Thursday, 9 July 2026.
Dube described Somgxada as a “dedicated and peace-loving patriotic South African” and said the killing has sharpened tensions around the movement’s ongoing mobilisation.
"He was rushed to hospital for medical treatment, where he fought for his life until the final hour on Thursday, July 9, 2026, when he was pronounced dead," Dube said.
March and March has positioned its weekly marches as part of an ongoing campaign centred on illegal immigration and enforcement, a stance that has attracted broad public attention and, in many communities, heated debate. In its latest statement, the movement is linking Somgxada’s killing and the reported threats to what it says are entrenched criminal interests that are being disrupted by protests and public scrutiny.
Dube said Somgxada’s death comes amid reports that other March and March leaders have received warnings or death threats. He claimed these threats are being made by people who allegedly profit from extortion and the collection of protection fees from undocumented foreign nationals operating illegal businesses.
According to Dube, the threats are part of an attempt to silence organisers and discourage further action. He called on law enforcement authorities to investigate the murder and the threats thoroughly, warning that a failure to do so could inflame tensions.
"We call upon law enforcement authorities to get to the bottom of this matter, as it is bound to create unnecessary tension in various communities," he said.
He also said threats have been recorded in multiple areas, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, suggesting the movement believes the intimidation is co-ordinated or at least widespread.
Dube confirmed that the movement’s Tshwane regional leader received warning messages after a march held in Mamelodi on Thursday, 9 July. He also said similar threats have been reported elsewhere.
"Similar threats have also been received in Umlazi township in KwaZulu-Natal and in Mpumalanga province, all directed at March and March leaders," he said.
The movement’s claim that threats are increasing is likely to place added focus on the safety of organisers and marshals as marches continue — particularly in Gauteng, where March and March has repeatedly described immigration enforcement as a flashpoint issue and where protests have at times raised fears of intimidation of migrants, informal traders and businesses.
Despite the killing and the reported threats, Dube said March and March would not pause or scale back its protests. Instead, he said, the movement plans to intensify its Thursday marches, especially in Gauteng, which he described as an area of significant resistance and a high concentration of undocumented foreign nationals.
That decision sets up a volatile dynamic: a movement promising to escalate mobilisation at the same time as it claims its leaders are being threatened and targeted. It also raises questions about what practical steps, if any, are being taken to protect marchers and organisers, and what the police presence will look like if marches expand.
Dube framed the movement’s stance as a broader defence of communities against organised crime, and he called for South Africans to support the campaign.
"We call upon South Africans to stand up in defence of their country against drug cartels, extortionists disguised as security companies, drug dealers and human trafficking agents whose businesses are being disrupted by these continuous marches," he said.
He also urged supporters to treat Somgxada’s death as a rallying point, calling on the public to honour the slain leader.
"We call upon South Africans to honour the life of a fellow patriot and marcher, Mr Andile Mvuyelwa Somgxada, whose legacy will never be allowed to fade in vain," Dube said.
Dube said a memorial service for Somgxada is expected to be held in Gauteng later this week. The funeral, he said, will take place in the Eastern Cape, subject to confirmation by Somgxada’s family.
The movement has not provided details about where Somgxada was shot, who is suspected of being responsible, or whether any arrests have been made. It also did not outline what security arrangements will be put in place for upcoming marches or for leaders who say they are receiving direct threats.
The killing comes at a time when immigration politics remains intensely contested in South Africa, with some groups calling for stricter enforcement, while civil society and government officials have repeatedly warned against vigilantism and intimidation. Against that backdrop, any attack on a political organiser — particularly one tied to a movement already surrounded by controversy — is likely to add pressure on police to show visible progress in the investigation.
Dube’s reference to extortion and protection fees points to a deeper layer of criminality that often intersects with informal trading, undocumented work, and illicit markets. In many communities, allegations of “protection” rackets and coercion by individuals presenting themselves as security providers have been raised, though they are difficult to investigate and prosecute without witnesses willing to testify.
March and March is now explicitly arguing that its marches are disrupting those interests, and that its organisers are being targeted as a result. Whether police confirm that motive, or identify a different one, will depend on the outcome of the investigation into Somgxada’s death and the alleged threats.
For now, what is certain is that a movement leader has died after being shot, fellow organisers say they are being warned, and the organisation is planning to escalate protests rather than retreat — a combination that may heighten tensions in the very communities where it is most active.
