BBC News Afrique
·Jun 2026
Anti‑migrant protests in South Africa: major security deployment to prevent xenophobic attacks
Police forces are deployed across South Africa to prevent violence during coordinated anti‑migrant protests as activists push for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa urges peaceful demonstrations while acknowledging immigration policy issues. Several arrests occur in Johannesburg and KwaZulu‑Natal, and many migrants—primarily from Malawi and other African countries—flee or enter repatriation programmes amid fears of intimidation. Tensions rise around the use of traditional weapons, and authorities enforce restrictions while preparing for potential unrest. More than 12,000 migrants have been expelled or repatriated since the beginning of the protest wave, with several African governments assisting returnees.