‘Let Them Go’: Thousands March as Anti-Immigrant Protests Sweep South Africa

‘Let Them Go’: Thousands March as Anti-Immigrant Protests Sweep South Africa.

Thousands of South Africans took to the streets on Tuesday, June 30, demanding the removal of undocumented migrants from the country . The demonstrations, organised by groups including March and March and Operation Dudula, followed a self-imposed deadline set by campaigners for all undocumented foreigners to leave .

Protesters gathered in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, and Cape Town, with many carrying sticks and shields while chanting “abahambe” – an isiZulu phrase meaning “let them go” . Videos shared online showed large crowds marching through city centres, where many businesses remained closed amid fears of violence .

The demonstrations were largely peaceful under heavy police presence, though isolated incidents of looting, stone-throwing, and confrontation were reported . In Johannesburg’s Hillbrow area, two people were injured by gunshots, and police arrested three suspects . At least 10 people were arrested in KwaZulu-Natal for looting and attempted looting.

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Authorities deployed thousands of police officers nationwide ahead of the protests, with the military placed on standby . In Gauteng province alone, about 13,000 police officers, more than 10,000 metro police, around 8,000 traffic wardens, and over 217,000 private security personnel were mobilised.

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure activated operational centres in all nine provinces, warning that any attempts to loot businesses or disrupt critical infrastructure would be dealt with decisively.

As tensions escalated, the Federal Government continued its voluntary evacuation programme for Nigerians wishing to return home. On Tuesday, 269 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg . This marked the second government-coordinated evacuation exercise in recent weeks.

Earlier in June, 328 Nigerians had already been repatriated in two batches – the first with 262 returnees on June 11, and a second with 66 on June 25 . President Bola Tinubu has reportedly directed that evacuations will continue even after the deadline has elapsed to ensure no Nigerian citizen who wishes to return is left behind.

Ahead of the protests, dozens of Nigerians gathered at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, seeking refuge and expressing fears of possible xenophobic attacks . Some who had registered for evacuation said they remained stranded as they were not scheduled for the latest flight.

The Federal Government has assured Nigerians still residing in South Africa of their safety, even as fresh concerns over xenophobic tensions continue to trigger calls for stronger diplomatic action . The Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to Nigerians who decide to remain in South Africa to exercise caution, avoid areas dominated by protesters, and stay in contact with diplomatic officials.

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Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that federal government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, would be on hand to receive returnees and carry out on-site documentation, health screenings, and profiling.

Thousands of foreign nationals from other African countries had already fled South Africa ahead of the June 30 deadline . South African police said about 25,000 people, mostly from other African countries, had been processed for departure in recent weeks.

Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ghana, and Uganda have advised their nationals in South Africa to remain vigilant, while some governments have offered voluntary repatriation assistance . In Durban and Johannesburg, landlords were reportedly evicting foreign tenants for fear of their buildings being vandalised.

President Ramaphosa’s Response

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to exercise their constitutional right to protest peacefully while warning that violence, intimidation, and vigilantism would not be tolerated . He acknowledged the “deep concerns about illegal immigration” as “real and deserving to be heard” but emphasised that the right to protest does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others .

The government reiterated that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the state and warned that violence, intimidation, vigilantism, xenophobia, and hate speech would not be tolerated.

The protests followed weeks of heightened tensions over illegal immigration, during which authorities repeatedly warned against vigilantism and xenophobic violence . At least five people have been killed in violence since protests began in April, with thousands driven from their homes or seeing their businesses and property vandalised.

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Anti-immigrant groups accuse migrants of taking jobs by accepting lower wages, driving crime, and putting pressure on public services – claims that social scientists say lack evidence . The immigrant population in South Africa stands at about 3 million, or about 4% of the total population – a relatively low share by global standards.

Some analysts have described the anti-migrant push as having been “politically weaponised” ahead of local government elections scheduled for November . Labour analyst Dale McKinley told AFP that the problem is “one of governance, corruption and mismanagement” rather than immigration.

By Tuesday evening, authorities said most demonstrations had dispersed peacefully despite isolated incidents, while security forces remained on high alert . The government reaffirmed that anyone responsible for violence, looting, or other criminal acts during the demonstrations would be arrested and prosecuted.