Migrants in South Africa fear violence ahead of June 30 deadline
Tensions rise in South Africa as anti-immigrant activists set June 30 as a deadline for foreigners to leave. Migrants seek refuge at consulates, fearing for their lives.
In Johannesburg, South Africa, a meeting was held on Sunday in the informal settlement of Tembelihle, organized by the Tembelihle Crisis Committee, a grassroots movement that has previously opposed xenophobic violence. The aim was to discourage attacks on foreign nationals as tensions mount over a June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant activists for foreigners to leave the country.
The meeting revealed sharp divisions. Some speakers urged residents not to target foreigners, while others blamed migrants for crime and social problems. Calls for foreigners to leave were met with applause. After the meeting, word spread that a Malawian resident had been stabbed nearby, though it was unclear if it was linked to anti-immigrant sentiment.
Migrants, particularly from Malawi, fear for their safety. One man sleeping outside the consulate said neighbors warned him to leave or his family would be killed. The deadline spread via social media and fake pamphlets mimicking official notices. The South African government dismissed them as fake.
The activist group "March and March," which advocates for immigration restrictions, says its campaign targets government failure over undocumented immigration, not foreigners. However, similar mobilizations have led to violence, including the deaths of Mozambican nationals in Mossel Bay and a Malawian beaten to death in Pietermaritzburg.
On Sunday, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said law enforcement was on high alert, with police leave canceled and additional resources deployed. Protests were already taking place in Johannesburg and Durban. In Soweto, residents marched blaming undocumented immigration for government failures and demanding stricter border controls.
Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration, said rhetoric had moderated over the weekend following government warnings. She noted that organizers stressed peaceful marches and expressed concern about fake pamphlets. Statistics South Africa estimates about 2.4 million documented and undocumented migrants live in the country. The government is focused on maintaining order and assisting migrants who wish to leave, but will not create refugee or transit camps.
Researcher Luke Sinwell from the University of Johannesburg said the events show how frustration over unemployment, crime, and state failure is redirected toward migrants. He warned that dividing communities into "us" and "them" can become extremely dangerous. President Cyril Ramaphosa called for peaceful protests, warning that violence would not be justified. Yet, less than 24 hours before the deadline, fear remains. One resident said, "If they don't go, we will make them go."
