Thousands of demonstrators gathered in various parts of South Africa on Tuesday to protest against illegal immigration, with some activist groups setting a deadline for the departure of all undocumented migrants. South African authorities deployed hundreds of police officers in major cities, including Johannesburg and Durban, to manage the demonstrations and prevent potential violence.
Protest organizers, such as March and March, Operation Dudula, and Progressive Forces, claim that illegal immigrants are contributing to unemployment by accepting low wages and are responsible for increased crime rates. These groups had set Tuesday as a deadline for migrants to leave the country, a demand not recognized by the South African government, which maintains that only official channels can enforce immigration laws.
In Johannesburg, demonstrators carried South African flags and traditional fighting sticks, with some holding posters that read, "SA withdraw from the UN refugee convention" and "The future of our kids." Protesters voiced their concerns, with one demonstrator, Nkele Thebe, stating, "Today is the last day. After today, we’ll be dealing with our president and our nation. We don’t want an outsider to come interfere." Another protester, Bongani Cindi, argued that the groups were being unfairly labeled as xenophobic for raising legitimate issues about crime and the influx of undocumented immigrants.
Past anti-immigration marches in South Africa have led to violence, vandalism of foreign-owned businesses, and the closure of shops. Ahead of Tuesday's protests, some shops owned by foreign nationals in Johannesburg were closed. Similar demonstrations were reported in Durban, as well as in parts of the North West and Free State provinces. In the Eastern Cape province, where previous protests turned violent and damaged public infrastructure, police and private security firms were also deployed.
The increased tensions have prompted fear among migrants, primarily from neighboring Zimbabwe and Malawi. Thousands have sought refuge at their embassies and consulates, requesting transportation back to their home countries. Increased activity has been observed at the Beitbridge checkpoint along the Zimbabwe border, with buses transporting migrants out of South Africa. Thousands of Malawian nationals have also returned home from a repatriation center in Durban.
Earlier in the month, three groups of Nigerian migrants returned to their country, with one group of 271 people arriving in Lagos on Tuesday, in response to the escalating anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa.