Ramaphosa Warns Against Violence Ahead of South Africa Anti-Immigration Protests
Police deployed hundreds of officers as organizers pressed an unofficial deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave, while at least four people have died in unrest.
- On Tuesday, June 30, 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that vigilantism and intimidation will not be tolerated during nationwide anti-immigrant protests, urging citizens to pursue grievances peacefully and within the constitution.
- Citizen-Led groups established an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to exit, with organizations like March and March pushing for mass action against illegal immigration and prompting thousands to flee.
- The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure reported more than 25,000 foreign nationals have been repatriated in recent weeks, while thousands await departure in temporary camps due to safety fears.
- Western Cape Premier Alan Winde appealed for calm while officials deployed multi-disciplinary security teams to maintain order, declaring June 30 a normal working day despite heightened security concerns across the country.
- These protests emerge against a backdrop of unemployment above 30%, as labour analyst Dale McKinley told AFP that scapegoating migrants diverts attention from "governance, corruption, and mismanagement" driving the economic crisis.
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152 Articles
Zimbabwean citizen recounts leaving South Africa over anti-migrant sentiment
Around 25,000 migrants have left South Africa in recent weeks over rising anti-migrant sentiment that has resulted in the deaths of four people. One returnee from Zimbabwe recounts his experience.
Tensions surrounding immigration in South Africa have been rising for months toward Tuesday, June 30, the deadline by which activist groups demand that all...
South Africans Hit The Streets as Anti-Immigrant Deadline...
Thousands of people marched Tuesday in cities across South Africa to demand the departure of undocumented foreign nationals after a weeks-long campaign that has sent thousands fleeing and claimed four lives. Police were out in force for the nationwide protests which capped a campaign of demonstrations led by citizen-led vigilante groups that set an unofficial June 30 deadline for foreigners without papers to leave. There were isolated reports of…
Eye on Africa - Thousands march in South Africa demanding departure of undocumented foreigners
In tonight's edition, South Africa's Day of anti-Immigration marches set as a deadline by organizers is thankfully a far more calm affair than many had feared. Also, rescue services in Ghana are still…
Xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants are shaking South Africa. Today, a deadline set by the Citizens' Guard expires: All undocumented migrants must leave the country. Large protests are taking place in several parts of the country. – This is nothing new, says SVT's Africa correspondent Johan Ripås.
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