Thousands of police officers were deployed across South Africa as large-scale protests against illegal immigration turned violent, with clashes and looting spreading to multiple cities. The unrest, involving thousands of demonstrators, occurred ahead of an unofficial June 30 deadline set by some organizers calling for the removal of all undocumented migrants.
Protesters, largely from poor or unemployed communities, have voiced grievances that foreign migrants are taking jobs by accepting lower wages and contributing to higher crime rates. At least four people have been killed amid the spreading violence and looting, according to reports.
These clashes represent the most significant migration-related protests in South Africa since anti-migrant violence erupted in 2008. While many foreign nationals from other African countries had already fled in anticipation of the deadline, tensions remained high.
Multiple businesses and properties were vandalized in several areas, prompting many shops to close and foreign workers to stay home. In some instances, landlords reportedly evicted foreign tenants to avoid further trouble. Witnesses alleged that approximately 100 Congolese nationals were left sleeping on the streets of Durban.
Clashes and Security Response
While many marches were reported as peaceful, police stated that several looters were arrested and rubber bullets were fired to disperse crowds. Protesters looted shacks belonging to foreign nationals in the Soweto township, and in Thembisa, a Johannesburg suburb, rioters reportedly threw stones at police and suspected migrants, with sporadic gunfire heard.
Tactical vehicles were deployed, and police fired shots in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, after encountering a group of about 500 protesters. Nationwide, thousands of police officers have been mobilized, and the military was placed on standby, according to a defense spokesperson.
"To those who intend to break the law tomorrow, our message is simple: do not test the resolve of the State," Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili stated.
The "March and March" group, identified as one of the prominent organizations behind the unrest, disavowed responsibility for isolated violent incidents occurring during the demonstrations. Jacinta Ngobese, the group's leader, stated that the organization could not control every individual's behavior. The group plans to continue weekly marches until its demands are met, despite the government's rejection of the deadline and its assertion that only authorities can enforce immigration laws.
"For the next six months, we are asking for our national resources to be used to take the illegal immigrants out of this country. From building to building -- they must go," Ngobese said.
Despite South Africa's high unemployment rate, it remains Africa's largest economy and continues to attract migrants. The country's immigrant population is estimated at approximately 3 million, representing about 4% of the total population, according to StatsSA.