Anti-Immigration Protests Begin in South Africa as Migrant Deadline Takes Effect on June 30
Anti-immigration protests have commenced in South Africa, coinciding with the June 30 deadline set by the pressure group March and March for undocumented migrants to depart the country.
Demonstrators gathered in multiple locations on Tuesday, under a significant security presence. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with concerns that the marches could potentially incite violence.
Police and other security agencies have been deployed across key provinces, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, to uphold law and order and avert a recurrence of past xenophobic attacks.
The South African government has distanced itself from the ultimatum, asserting that immigration enforcement falls under the purview of state authorities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa met with some protest leaders on the eve of the demonstrations, aiming to de-escalate tensions. He advised those planning to participate in the protest to do so without “intimidation, threats or ultimatums.”
Ramaphosa has consistently cautioned demonstrators to act peacefully and responsibly, while also acknowledging the necessity for immigration reforms. “Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully,” he reminded citizens in his weekly newsletter. “They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy, and contribute positively to our society. They are also entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution. The right to protest and freedom of expression does not permit people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence,” he wrote.
According to official figures, over three million documented foreign nationals reside in South Africa. These statistics do not include the many more migrants believed to be in the country without proper documentation, which remains a central point of contention for the protesters.
Police reported that approximately 50,000 migrants have been arrested since January on charges of illegal residency. Many individuals have already left South Africa to avoid violence and intimidation. South African police state that 25,000 have been repatriated thus far, predominantly from other African nations.
Johannesburg, where one of the protests is planned, remains unusually quiet. All shops in the areas designated for marchers were closed, and police visibility was high on the city’s main streets.
Police reported the arrest of five individuals in Soweto, Johannesburg’s largest township, on suspicion of looting a shop owned by a foreign national. Additionally, five people were arrested for allegedly breaking into a tuck shop in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal province.
In Durban, which has experienced some of the largest protests, the white tents housing mostly Malawians have been dismantled as authorities work to clear the transit camp. Numerous businesses in central Durban, the province’s primary city, were locked.
Malawian media outlets have reported that approximately 7,000 Malawians have been repatriated. Women in colorful sarongs sat atop their belongings, queuing to board a bus returning to Malawi.
Nelson Mbewe stated that he had traveled to South Africa seeking employment to support his family in Malawi. “But we have faced challenges – they say we must go back home because we do not have the right documents,” he told the BBC. “They say we are Makwerekwere” – a xenophobic slang term used to refer to African migrants from other countries – Mbewe stated. “It’s their country, what can we do? That’s why we have accepted to just [unwillingly] go back home.”
Hassan Phiri, a Malawian still awaiting processing, had a message for the protesters. “All I want South Africans to know is that all of us are one. No matter what is happening, no matter what will happen, Africa must remain Africa. Africa cannot be Africa without South Africa… without Malawi, without anywhere,” he told the BBC, adding: “no matter what, we must love each other and stick together as Africa.”
Authorities have granted permission for anti-migrant protests to proceed on Tuesday in Durban, Johannesburg, and other cities. Organizers were warned to ensure the protests do not escalate into violence, though authorities stated they are prepared for any potential disruption.
Police announced that traditional weapons are prohibited. This could create tension between protesters and law enforcement, as many demonstrators are ethnic Zulus who customarily carry shields, whips, and sticks during protests.
According to the government, over 12,000 immigrants have been deported or repatriated since a wave of protests began earlier this year. Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe have been organizing repatriations by air or bus over the past few weeks, with approximately 3,500 foreign nationals voluntarily choosing to leave.
South African authorities claim that over 500 repatriated Nigerians lacked proper documentation, a claim Nigeria disputes. A Soweto resident told the BBC that protesters merely want foreigners to “follow” the laws of South Africa. She expressed no fear that the march in Johannesburg would turn violent, citing the heavy police presence.
Another protester, affiliated with the anti-migrant group Operation Dudula, stated that they would “push the police to do their” job if undocumented migrants do not leave South Africa.
Nigeria airlifted 269 of its citizens on the eve of the protests, bringing the total number of its nationals evacuated so far to approximately 600. Further evacuations are anticipated in the coming days.
Ahead of the deadline, thousands of migrants have been awaiting processing in temporary camps for several weeks, driven by fears for their safety. Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa, occasionally resulting in violence.
According to Xenowatch, a xenophobic violence tracker by the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS), two people have been killed this year. In 2008, over 60 people died during a wave of riots targeting non-South Africans.
