South African anti‑migrant protesters march after Ramaphosa warns against vigilantes

Dozens of anti‑illegal immigration protesters marched through the township of Kwa-Thema, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Johannesburg, on Monday. The demonstration came a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to take action against groups accused of stoking xenophobic violence.

South Africa has experienced repeated episodes of anti‑migrant violence. This year, the situation intensified when vigilante groups demanded that undocumented foreigners leave the country by 30 June.

While chanting and singing, the protesters moved through Kwa-Thema, calling for stronger government measures to curb illegal immigration. The march remained peaceful, although some participants carried sticks, as shown in footage aired by the SABC public broadcaster.

Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns about illegal immigration but warned that authorities would not tolerate individuals taking the law into their own hands. In a national address late Sunday, he said:

“We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence.”

“We will act against forces who are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal or criminal agendas.”

Protest organisers welcomed the president’s attention to the issue but said they would continue their campaign. South Africa, one of Africa’s largest economies, hosts more than three million foreigners—just over five percent of the population. Unemployment, running at over 30 percent, has heightened tensions between locals and migrant workers.

The most severe wave of violence against immigrants in the past two decades occurred in 2008, when 62 people were killed. Violent clashes also erupted in 2015, 2016 and 2019. In the current unrest, at least two Mozambican citizens have been killed.

Last month, hundreds of foreign nationals, including citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia, sought protection in Durban, the eastern port city. They reported that locals had gone door‑to‑door demanding they leave by the end of the month.

The unrest has prompted several countries to organize the return of their citizens. Ghana arranged repatriation flights for hundreds of nationals, while Malawi and Mozambique organized buses to bring people home. Over 600 Ghanaians were processed for departure over the weekend, bringing the total number who have left to 995, according to South Africa’s border authority. The first group of Nigerians is scheduled to depart on Wednesday. Kenya, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have also urged their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution.

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