By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
South African authorities have deployed massive security contingents across major urban centers as protesters marked an unofficial deadline demanding the departure of all undocumented foreigners. The demonstrations, organized by groups such as March and March and Operation Dudula, triggered widespread anxiety regarding potential violence. While President Cyril Ramaphosa engaged with protest leaders to urge calm, city centers in Johannesburg and Durban remained eerily quiet with many businesses shuttered out of caution.
Government stance on law and order
The government has explicitly rejected the legitimacy of the self-imposed deadline, maintaining that only state authorities hold the power to enforce immigration laws. President Ramaphosa warned demonstrators that freedom of expression does not grant a license for lawlessness. In his weekly newsletter, he reminded citizens that “the right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence.”
He further emphasized the distinction between various categories of foreign nationals, stating, “Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully. They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution.”
Tensions on the streets
Despite calls for restraint, the protest atmosphere remained volatile. Reports emerged of isolated incidents, including bricks thrown at residential buildings in the Johannesburg suburb of Yeoville. Authorities reported arrests in Soweto and Hammarsdale linked to the looting of foreign-owned shops. While police allowed some demonstrators to carry traditional weapons like sticks and shields, they seized a machete during a march in Durban.
Protesters cited economic grievances and concerns over crime as their primary motivation. One demonstrator, Bongani Cindi, rejected labels of xenophobia, asserting, “Our country has got a lot of problems. We have influx of illegal immigrants who are committing crimes that we can’t even take anymore. So we need them to leave us in peace, so we can sort our house. We are not fighting anyone.” Another participant, Nkele Thebe, stated, “Today is the last day. After today, we’ll be dealing with our president and our nation. We don’t want an outsider to come interfere.”
The growing migrant exodus
The climate of fear has fueled a significant departure of migrants. Thousands have sought refuge in temporary camps or crowded into transit points. Nations including Nigeria, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe have facilitated air or bus repatriations.
For those forced to leave, the reality is deeply painful. Nelson Mbewe, a Malawian migrant, noted the challenges faced by those without legal documentation. Referring to the xenophobic slur often directed at them, he said, “They say we are Makwerekwere. It’s their country, so what can we do? That’s why we have accepted that we just have to [unwillingly] go back home.”
Another Malawian, Hassan Phiri, who remained in a transit camp, offered a message of regional unity. “All I want to say to South Africans is that we are all one. No matter what is happening, no matter what will happen, Africa must remain Africa. Africa can’t be Africa without South Africa… without Malawi, without anywhere. So whatever will happen, we must love each other and stick together as Africa,” he said.
A complex historical challenge
Xenophobic violence has troubled South Africa for years, with the African Centre for Migration and Society’s tracker reporting two deaths this year and recalling the 2008 riots that claimed more than 60 lives. While authorities claim over 12,000 migrants have been deported or repatriated since the start of the year, the structural issues driving the friction—including high unemployment and public frustration—persist.
Shared destiny across the continent
The current unrest carries profound implications for the spirit of Pan-Africanism. As countries across the continent look on, the events in South Africa test the resilience of regional solidarity. Leaders across Africa are now closely monitoring the safety of their citizens, underscoring that the challenges of migration, labor, and economic integration are collective concerns that transcend national borders. The unfolding situation remains a critical juncture for African unity and the protection of fundamental human rights within the AU framework.
Bridging the divide for a stable future
As the nation navigates this latest wave of instability, the government faces the arduous task of balancing the protection of human rights with the demands of an increasingly agitated citizenry. True resolution will likely require more than temporary police deployments; it necessitates addressing the underlying socioeconomic disparities and fostering a national dialogue that upholds the rule of law while rejecting the cycle of violence that threatens the country’s social fabric.
