- uMkhonto weSizwe Party KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Leader Willies Mchunu voiced support for the March and March movement
- Mchunu noted the movement's recent stance against the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding asylum seekers
- South Africans took to social media to weigh in on Mchunu's comments regarding asylum seekers in the country
Source: UGC
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
KWAZULU-NATAL — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party's KZN Provincial Leader Willies Mchunu has publicly aligned the party with the March and March movement, declaring support for ongoing demonstrations against the Department of Home Affairs' asylum implementation directive.
Mchunu made the remarks during a street interview conducted by community outlet Durban Network on 19 October 2026. Large parts of Durban and Soweto were gripped by violent unrest following the Constitutional Court's ruling regarding asylum seekers.
The court declared that several provisions of the Refugees Act 130 of 1998 were unconstitutional. The court struck down procedural clauses that had previously blocked asylum seekers from accessing the application process on technicalities, including entering outside a designated port of entry or failing to report to a Refugee Reception Office within five days.
Home Affairs issued a directive following the ruling, but withdrew it days later after offices were overwhelmed by applicants and tensions flared between locals and foreign nationals.
Mchunu challenges asylum qualification criteria
Speaking directly to the issue of who qualifies for asylum, Mchunu questioned the legitimacy of claims made by nationals from countries not experiencing war or state collapse.
"How are you an asylum seeker when there is no war in the place you come from? There is a functioning government, and you're just going to stay here in South Africa and be called an asylum seeker? That law is wrong, and we oppose it," he said.
He added that should the government fail to amend the relevant legislation, the MK Party would join all those opposing it, including March and March.
How did South Africans react?
Social media users responded with scepticism to Mchunu's position.
Suzzet Khalim asked:
"So, how do you know the ones that have no war in their country?"
Jakson Ngw raised a practical concern:
"So, how can you check the people who are asylum seekers? Without registering?"
Muzi M Mthethwa offered a blunter take, commenting simply:
"Fishing for votes."
Tumza Phumo Tumi stated:
"He was part of this problem. We don't want anything from this pensioner. He is from the ANC, remember. Don't be fooled by these old people."
Rolex Kwaito added:
"I wish that KZN could be under MKP so we can see them collapsing their own province."
Home Affairs officials probed over foreigners entering SA
In a related article, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi announced that police are investigating senior Home Affairs officials over the entry of foreign nationals into South Africa.
Briefly News reported that the comments followed unrest in Durban that left vehicles burned and shops looted following a Home Affairs directive.
The violence erupted near the Refugee Reception Centre after protests over asylum applications, and similar unrest was reported in Soweto.
Source: Briefly News
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