“Mutual Respect”: AfriForum and March and March Agree to Work Together After Meeting
- AfriForum and March and March held a meeting to discuss shared challenges facing South African communities at grassroots level
- March and March founder Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma led the delegation, which met with AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel and his team
- The two organisations identified several potential areas of collaboration, including education, crime prevention and community safety
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SOUTH AFRICA - Two of South Africa's prominent civil society organisations sat down for a landmark meeting that could reshape how communities tackle their own challenges without waiting for the government to act.
AfriForum and March and March met at AfriForum's offices, with the March and March delegation headed by its founder, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. She was received by AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel and a team from the civil rights organisation. The meeting followed March and March's announcement that it was establishing its own civil society body, the SA First Forum, and that it intended to learn from established organisations like AfriForum.
Areas of cooperation identified
Discussions centred on issues that communities across the country continue to grapple with, including the breakdown of border control, inadequate crime prevention, and the failure of the public education system. Both organisations agreed to jointly pursue legal matters of mutual interest and to support each other on issues related to the rule of law and the fight against crime, including illegal migration.
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Potential areas of collaboration included community organisation, capacity-building, mother-language education, agricultural development, skills training, and the preservation of cultural heritage and identity. Both parties also agreed to explore lawful ways of improving community safety.
Ngobese-Zuma stressed that building a united South Africa grounded in ubuntu, respect for cultural and religious beliefs, and the rule of law lies at the heart of what March and March stands for. She added that unsecured borders, illicit trade, rising crime, and government corruption all require urgent attention from community-based organisations that are not driven by narrow political interests.
"The relationship is therefore based on mutual respect, with both parties agreeing to complement and challenge one another in pursuit of the shared objective of building a united South Africa that acknowledges diversity," Ngobese-Zuma said.'
AfriForum welcomes the partnership
Kriel welcomed the collaboration, noting that AfriForum already works with a wide range of organisations and communities committed to building a better country. He said the organisation, which has grown to 300,000 members over 20 years, is willing to share openly what has worked and what has not.
"We cannot allow differences on specific matters to stand in the way of cooperation that would benefit our children," Kriel said.
AfriForum's Head of Intercultural Relations, Barend Uys, noted that the organisation already has collaboration agreements with communities including the AmaBhele KaJamangile, Barolong Boo Seleka, Vulamehlo Kusile Organisation, and the Royal Leaders of South Africa (ROLESA), among others.
Both organisations confirmed that all efforts to advance community interests would remain peaceful and within the framework of the law.
Afriforum endorses SA First Forum
Briefly News also reported that AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel publicly endorsed March and March's decision to establish itself as a civic advocacy body modelled on AfriForum, rather than entering the political arena. Kriel shared his reaction on X on 4 August 2026, describing the announcement as "Great news" and expressing support for the movement's choice to pursue civic advocacy over party politics.
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Source: Briefly News
