Anti-immigrant ultimatum in South Africa leads to 25,000 departures and protests
via Le Mauricien4 min read
Thousands of South Africans gathered on Tuesday to demand the departure of undocumented immigrants, following an ultimatum set by an anti-immigration movement for June 30. This movement, without official mandate, caused widespread fear, leading to over 25,000 people being repatriated to their home countries, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ghana. The South African authorities have reported four deaths linked to "anti-foreigner sentiment" since the movement began. Protests took place in major cities like Johannesburg and Durban, with demonstrators carrying signs and traditional Zulu shields. The movement, March and March, was founded by former radio host Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, known for her xenophobic views. Political parties like ActionSA and Umkhonto we Sizwe have supported the movement, which blames undocumented foreigners for issues such as unemployment, crime, and strain on the healthcare system. In response to potential unrest, over 10,000 police officers, supported by drones and helicopters, were deployed nationwide. While most demonstrations remained largely peaceful, police intervened in Germiston to protect foreigners from aggressive protesters. The current events echo previous waves of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which saw around sixty deaths in 2008 and further clashes in 2015. March and March leaders, while condemning violence, have vowed to continue weekly protests, with Ngobese-Zuma promising demonstrations every Thursday and calling
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Mauricien.
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