JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — Anti-immigrant protests and street patrols have escalated across Johannesburg, South Africa, as local groups enforce an unofficial deadline for illegal foreign nationals to vacate the country. The demonstrations, which have sparked widespread door-to-door searches and evictions, highlight growing tensions over socio-economic issues and employment in the region.
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the outskirts of the city on Thursday to enforce a June 30 deadline set by the anti-immigrant movement. Local residents have increasingly blamed foreign migrants for a wide array of socio-economic problems, particularly high unemployment rates. The groups have pledged to continue their weekly Thursday demonstrations until the government takes decisive action on illegal immigration.
Speaking on the group’s mission to secure local employment, a spokesperson for the protesters at the Kumatu farm explained their strategy: “We are matching looking for jobs for our children. We are also not working but it’s better if the kids start first. We have visited several farms and now we are here at the Kumatu farm. We want to find ways to get them hired so foreigners with no documents can leave.”
The unrest has heavily impacted Alexandra Township, where anti-immigrant factions have initiated aggressive door-to-door operations. These patrols have resulted in the forced eviction of undocumented foreign nationals from their residences. Confirming the nature of these operations, a spokesperson for the demonstrators in Alexandra Township stated bluntly, “We are walking door-to-door removing foreigners.”
The aggressive tactics have left many migrants living in a state of constant fear for their safety and legal status. Even those with some form of documentation are not immune to the anxiety. A spokesperson for the affected migrants, who holds a Zimbabwean exemption permit, expressed their distress, saying, “I’m worried because I’m under a Zimbabwean exemption permit holder.”
In response to the escalating violence and unlawful evictions, the South African government has publicly condemned the actions of the anti-immigrant groups. The unrest has triggered a massive international response, with several African nations scrambling to repatriate their citizens. Countries including Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe are currently organizing mass repatriation efforts to bring their nationals home from South Africa.
