Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in several South African cities on Tuesday, calling for the removal of undocumented foreign nationals following weeks of anti-immigration protests that have displaced thousands of people and reportedly claimed four lives.
The nationwide marches marked the culmination of a campaign led by citizen-driven vigilante groups, which had issued an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Security agencies maintained a heavy presence across major cities to prevent violence as the demonstrations unfolded.
Although the protests were largely peaceful, authorities recorded isolated incidents of looting, stone-throwing and confrontations between demonstrators and foreign nationals.
Near Johannesburg, police intervened to escort a small group of migrants away from an angry crowd armed with large sticks.
Large numbers of protesters marched through Johannesburg’s central business district, where many businesses remained closed while transport hubs experienced unusually low activity.
Participants carried South African flags and placards as riot police, wearing protective gear, monitored the demonstrations.
In Durban, located in KwaZulu-Natal Province, protesters dressed in traditional Zulu attire, carrying shields, spears and whips, with some wearing leopard skins as part of the procession.
One demonstrator, Brightness Gumbi, expressed frustration over what she described as unequal economic opportunities between locals and undocumented migrants.
“The illegal foreigners manage to pay it because they sell drugs to our people,” she told AFP. “I hope through these demonstrations our president will hear our cries and enforce stricter laws.”
Meanwhile, in Cape Town, turnout was significantly smaller, with roughly 100 demonstrators marching through the city centre while another group staged a counter-protest against xenophobia and Afrophobia.
Calls for mass deportation
South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, continues to attract migrants from across the continent despite struggling with unemployment exceeding 30 per cent, high crime rates and pressure on public services.
Campaign groups opposed to illegal immigration argue that undocumented migrants compete with South Africans for jobs, housing and public resources, although analysts have repeatedly challenged those claims.
Addressing supporters in Durban, March and March movement leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma called for a large-scale deportation campaign.
“South Africans have been replaced by illegal foreigners, increasing unemployment,” she said.
“We want mass deportation. For the next six months we want the government to get rid of the people who have not left.”
According to police, the latest wave of anti-immigrant violence has resulted in the deaths of at least four foreign nationals, including two Mozambicans, one Ethiopian and one Malawian.
In response to the deteriorating situation, several African governments—including Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique—have organised voluntary evacuation flights and bus services to assist citizens wishing to return home.
Unlike previous episodes of xenophobic unrest, this marks the first occasion on which multiple African governments have simultaneously coordinated repatriation efforts.
Authorities said more than 25,000 people had already been processed for departure in recent weeks.
Migrants fear for their safety
As protests continued, hundreds of migrants, particularly from Zimbabwe and Malawi, gathered in cities including Johannesburg and Cape Town while awaiting transport back to their home countries.
Many said they had lost accommodation or employment after landlords and employers became concerned about possible attacks or penalties from authorities.
“The people in South Africa, they don’t want us here. I’m scared,” a 23-year-old Zimbabwean woman told AFP while waiting with around 2,000 others for transportation.
In Durban, only a small number of Malawians remained at an evacuation centre after thousands had already departed in recent days.
“I thought I could stay on but neighbours warned us last night,” said 32-year-old Adam John.
“I felt that it is better to try and get home while I still can.”
Government appeals for calm
Fearing a repeat of the deadly unrest that erupted in 2021, when widespread looting and violence claimed around 350 lives, South African authorities deployed significant security resources across the country ahead of Tuesday’s demonstrations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced tougher measures to combat illegal immigration while urging traditional leaders to help reduce tensions in affected communities.
Labour analyst Dale McKinley argued that the anti-immigration movement has become increasingly politicised as South Africa prepares for local government elections scheduled for November.
South Africa has experienced repeated outbreaks of anti-foreigner violence over the years, including the 2008 xenophobic attacks that left 62 people dead.
