Tension gripped communities across South Africa on Monday as residents, migrants, businesses, and government officials prepared for nationwide anti-immigration demonstrations scheduled for June 30.
The protests, driven by groups demanding stricter immigration enforcement and the departure of undocumented foreign nationals, have heightened fears of unrest in several provinces. The campaign’s self-imposed deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country comes after weeks of demonstrations, intimidation, and isolated incidents of violence targeting foreign communities.
Thousands of migrants have been left in uncertainty, with many seeking ways to leave the country voluntarily. While governments including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have assisted citizens wishing to return home, many others remain stranded in temporary shelters awaiting transportation and documentation.
Reports indicate that at least three foreign nationals—two from Mozambique and one from Malawi—have lost their lives during recent tensions, increasing concerns among migrant communities about their safety.
Several migrants described living under constant fear in the days leading up to the protests. One foreign resident said repeated threats from neighbours convinced him that remaining in the country posed too great a risk, prompting his decision to return home. Others spoke of difficult family choices, including separation from spouses and children as they sought safety outside South Africa.
Nigeria has already facilitated the return of 324 citizens through two evacuation flights under an emergency voluntary repatriation programme. Official records have historically estimated the legally documented Nigerian population in South Africa at between 25,000 and 35,000 people.
South African authorities have responded by increasing security measures ahead of the planned demonstrations. Law enforcement agencies have warned that individuals engaging in violence, intimidation, or unlawful actions will face prosecution.
Security agencies have identified Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape as areas requiring heightened monitoring due to the possibility of large gatherings and confrontations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appealed for calm, emphasizing that while citizens have the constitutional right to protest, such freedoms do not permit threats, destruction of property, or attacks against others.
The president stressed that South Africa remains governed by constitutional principles and the rule of law, adding that lawful foreign residents deserve equal protection under the country’s legal framework.
Ramaphosa noted that many migrants living in South Africa contribute positively through employment, education, business investments, and family life. He welcomed assurances from some protest organizers that demonstrations would remain peaceful but cautioned that organizers would be held accountable should violence occur.
Economic and labour groups have also expressed concern over the growing anti-migrant sentiment, arguing that immigrants are being unfairly blamed for broader economic challenges.
A coalition within the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC), including major labour federations, said unemployment, poverty, inequality, corruption, economic stagnation, and governance failures—not migration—remain the primary causes of South Africa’s economic difficulties.
Business leaders echoed similar concerns. Melanie Veness, Chief Executive of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, argued that foreign nationals have increasingly become targets of frustration over economic conditions despite playing important roles in local communities and businesses.
Labour organisations warned that removing migrants from workplaces and neighbourhoods would not solve structural economic problems or create long-term employment opportunities. Instead, they called for policies that address the root causes of economic hardship.
The groups further cautioned against attempts to use migration issues to divide workers and distract attention from deeper social and economic challenges. They emphasized that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of government authorities and should not be carried out by private individuals or groups.
Business organisations, including the Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business, stopped short of advising businesses to shut down. However, they encouraged residents and workers to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly around city centres and areas considered potential protest hotspots.
For many migrants, the uncertainty surrounding the demonstrations has created an atmosphere of anxiety and emotional strain.
At a temporary camp near Durban, 28-year-old Wilson Petro spoke of preparing for an uncertain journey back to Malawi after spending days waiting for assistance. He described the difficult circumstances facing many foreign nationals who feel increasingly vulnerable amid rising tensions.
The camp housed thousands of people living in temporary conditions, with families relying on limited belongings as they awaited transportation and support. Children remained close to their parents while adults quietly contemplated what lay ahead.
Elsewhere, at the Che Guevara Home Affairs office, asylum seeker Salima Tusame recounted weeks of fear and frustration. The mother of three said she had spent several weeks attempting to resolve documentation issues despite possessing legal papers authorizing her stay in South Africa.
Having lived in the country since 2015, she said recent hostility toward foreigners had affected nearly every aspect of her daily life, including her ability to work and access services.
Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli urged residents to avoid repeating the mistakes of previous periods of unrest, particularly the devastating violence of July 2021, which caused widespread economic damage and social disruption.
Ntuli warned that ordinary citizens often bear the greatest consequences when tensions escalate, losing businesses, jobs, and livelihoods. While acknowledging concerns about undocumented migration, he insisted that such frustrations must not become an excuse for lawlessness or xenophobic attacks.
He reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to maintaining peace and preventing violence, stressing that South Africa cannot afford another episode of widespread unrest fueled by division and hatred.
Anxiety Mounts Across South Africa as Anti-Immigration Protests Reach Critical Stage
