South Africa on Edge With Anti-Migrant Protests Underway Amid Heavy Police Presence

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Thousands of people are marching in South Africa’s main cities to demand that all undocumented migrants leave the country, as anti-migrant groups set Tuesday as the deadline for undocumented migrants to depart.

Police officers — backed by private security guards — have been deployed because of fears that protests could turn violent. Many foreigners have already fled to escape violence and intimidation. South African police say 25,000 have been repatriated so far, most from other African countries.

One undocumented Malawian told the BBC he was “happy to be going back” but “heartbroken” to be leaving behind four young children.

The Ministry of Police said the protests were largely peaceful across the country, with isolated incidents of looting and attempted looting. Some protesters threw bricks, breaking the windows of some homes in Yeoville, a suburb in Johannesburg where many African migrants live.

President Ramaphosa’s Stance on Immigration and Protests

President Cyril Ramaphosa met some of the protest leaders on the eve of the marches in a bid to defuse tensions. He has repeatedly warned demonstrators to act peacefully, while also accepting the need for immigration reforms:

“Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully. They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution,” Ramaphosa said.

“The right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence,” he wrote in his weekly newsletter.

Migration Statistics and Enforcement