South Africa rocked by anti-migrant marches

by NJABULO MKHIZE, AKANI CHAUKE, TINTSWALO BALOYI & DION HENRICK
DURBAN, (CAJ News) – SOUTH Africa’s nationwide anti-migrant marches have triggered violence, looting and mass displacement across KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape, exposing deepening social and political fractures over migration, inequality and state capacity.

The demonstrations, led by groups including the March and March movement, were framed as protests against undocumented immigration, but quickly escalated in several areas into looting, intimidation, property destruction and targeted attacks on migrant-owned businesses.

Authorities deployed large-scale policing operations as tensions rose across major urban centres, while thousands of foreign nationals reportedly fled homes and workplaces in anticipation of violence.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa moved to assert state authority over migration enforcement, warning against vigilantism and unlawful action.

“Only government officials are authorised to enforce immigration laws,” Ramaphosa said.

He also warned that: “Incitement and vigilantism will not be tolerated.”

Ramaphosa has repeatedly cautioned against scapegoating migrants, saying during earlier national remarks that while public frustration over unemployment and inequality is real, it must not be redirected at foreign nationals.

In several provinces, marches coincided with outbreaks of violence, looting and intimidation, particularly in township retail areas where many migrants run informal businesses.

At least four people were killed amid escalating hostility surrounding the protests, while thousands of migrants were displaced or sought to leave the country.

The widespread fear among migrants, one foreign national who said: “They will attack me if I stay.”

In multiple areas, migrant-owned spaza shops were looted or destroyed, forcing closures and prompting families to seek refuge in churches, community halls and consular facilities.

The March and March movement, one of the central organisers, maintained that its mobilisation targeted undocumented migration rather than migrants generally.

The March and March issued a demand for: “undocumented foreigners to leave the country.”

The group has argued that migrants contribute to unemployment and strain public services, though economists and policy analysts widely dispute claims that immigration is a primary driver of joblessness in South Africa.

Police units were deployed nationwide to contain unrest, with authorities warning against violence and destruction of property.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has consistently stated in similar protest contexts that: “Violence, intimidation and destruction of property will not be tolerated.”

Security forces used crowd-control measures in several hotspots as clashes broke out between demonstrators and counter-movements in some areas.

The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) warned ahead of the marches that authorities and organisers had a shared responsibility to prevent escalation, noting the high risk that peaceful protest could deteriorate into violence against people and property.

Many victims of these protests were Black African migrants, who bore the brunt of violence and intimidation.

Communities from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Somalia were among those most frequently affected in township economies where informal trading is highly competitive.

Humanitarian organisations have long warned that xenophobic outbreaks in South Africa rarely distinguish between legal and undocumented migrants, leaving long-term residents vulnerable to harm.

President Ramaphosa has previously warned against blaming migrants for structural economic challenges.

In earlier remarks, president Ramaphosa cautioned against: “scapegoating vulnerable migrant populations.”

He acknowledged high unemployment and inequality but emphasised that these are rooted in domestic structural issues rather than migration.

Reporting from affected areas indicates that fear preceded the marches, driven by social media posts and pamphlets claiming a “deadline” for migrants to leave.

Cases of migrants sleeping outside consulates and preparing to leave due to fear of attacks, with one Malawian migrant saying: “I have to get home before June 30, or they will kill my family.”

Thousand sought repatriation assistance as tensions escalated.

The unrest has raised concerns across the African continent, particularly among neighbouring states whose citizens form a large portion of South Africa’s migrant population.

Pan Africanists claim these xenophobic outbreaks risk undermining regional integration frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which depends on mobility, labour cooperation and trust between member states.

Diplomatic observers warn that continued instability could strain bilateral relations with countries whose nationals have been affected by violence.

South Africa has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic violence since 2008, often triggered by economic downturns, political mobilisation or informal economic competition.

Experts argue that the 30 June events reflect a recurring pattern: mobilisation against migrants, selective outbreaks of violence, displacement, and limited long-term structural intervention.

Despite repeated government assurances, the persistence of these incidents suggests that underlying drivers remain unresolved.

While authorities contained wider escalation during the 30 June marches, the events have once again highlighted the gap between constitutional protections for migrants and the realities faced on the ground.

For migrant communities, the aftermath remains marked by uncertainty, economic disruption and fear of renewed mobilisation.

Without sustained intervention addressing economic inequality, governance challenges and inflammatory rhetoric, analysts warn that such cycles are likely to persist.

– CAJ News