March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said that death threats allegedly linked to former KZN VIP Protection Services boss Glen Naidoo kept her away from a community meeting in Phoenix on Saturday.
This comes after Ngobese-Zuma failed to appear before a meeting organised by a civic organisation Voice of Phoenix (VOP) held at Phoenix Victory Centre.
Ngobese-Zuma told sundaytribune.co.za the alleged online death threats forced her to change her mind and withdraw from the meeting at the last minute, because she feared for her life.
Ngobese-Zuma posted the alleged threat which Naidoo had put up on his private Facebook account.
It read: “Dear People of Phoenix, MY PROMISE TO U, since my departure from KZN VIP Security, I will keep to my promise. But we as residents must stand up and be counted. All those that want to join me come to Eastbury Grounds, Unit 7, Eastbury.
“This is my warning to our "visitors": don't try and destroy Phoenix, you will regret your actions. To the Government, the Police and all those responsible for the safety of Phoenix you have been forewarned. I am begging you to please interact with the community,” said one post.
Another post read: “Through our own intelligence which we shared with the Police. The question on everybody's lips is who is bringing March and March to Phoenix; he has been identified as Vassie Govender.
“He is from the Rich Group and Voice of Phoenix. I'm looking for a Tik tok video he posted so you can hear his story. In the meantime I have consulted with several organizations to please come to the Eastbury Football grounds.
"Just in case as Jacinta always says, peaceful March and then 14 cars get burnt, shops looted and burnt and people attacked. Remember I am not talking on behalf of KZN VIP. I am talking as a Phoenician. Let's see how prepared you are.”
Ngobese-Zuma said she was robbed of a special opportunity to meet with Phoenix residents and engage on illegal immigration and other crucial matters.
"I did not go because Glen Naidoo threatened my life. I was afraid for my life because the threats reminded me of the July 2021 unrest incident.
“There is another post that I cannot find, where he (Naidoo) posted his security company was waiting for me, and he even wrote a caption to that effect," claimed Ngobese-Zuma.
According to Vassi Govender, leader of VOP, the meeting was arranged to inform and educate the Phoenix residents about the high rate of illegal immigration in the area and surrounding areas.
After speaking to sundaytribune.co.za, Ngobese-Zuma posted about KZN VIP Protection Services on her Facebook page and tagged Naidoo on the post.
Her post reads: "KZN VIP Protection Services is against the people of South Africa and we do not need them on our side. Going around threatening people because they are March and March. What interests are you protecting exactly? Glen Naidoo."
Naidoo denied the allegations.
He said he had never threatened Ngobese-Zuma or any other March and March leaders.
Naidoo said he had retired from his family security company, and did not have time to threaten anyone .
He said on Saturday he was busy building a house at Inanda.
"I do not have a problem with the March and March Movement and its leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. I admire Jacinta for raising the illegal immigration issue, but violent acts are not an answer.
“I have a problem with unlawful activities that had been done by the March and March Movement members in Durban CBD such as looting, torching foreigners' vehicles and buildings ," he said.
Naidoo said Ngobese-Zuma must account for the ‘mess’ allegedly caused by the organisation’s members in Durban CBD and surrounding areas.
"I always supported the movement, but the moment its members caused a riot in Durban, that is where I started disagreeing with them," said Naidoo.
He said he was against illegal immigration in the country.
"Foreigners coming to our country must follow proper protocols. But it is against the law to loot and vandalise foreign-owned stores or properties. We want to visit or open businesses to other African countries, but we cannot do that as the March and March Movement continues to terrorise foreign nationals," he said.
Naidoo and his former company made headlines following the July 2021 civil unrest in South Africa.
At the time, olitical groups and critics accused Naidoo and his agency of instigating racial violence during the riots.
Naidoo strongly denied these allegations, calling them a "dirty tricks" campaign meant to frame them, and pointed out that his team actively assisted injured community members across racial lines during the crisis.
Following the defamation and legal pressure brought on the family business, Naidoo said he had resigned from his formal duties at the company.
Naidoo's son Gareth, who is currently in charge of KZN VIP Protection Services, said he did not post about his father's 2021 resignation on Saturday because he received pressure or threats from the public.
"I posted that my father resigned from the company to clarify that whatever he posted on his private Facebook account has nothing to do with us at KZN VIP Protection Services. We did this because, previously we received blame from the public for instigating racial violence in Phoenix," said Gareth.