馃嚦馃嚞Punch Nigeria路2 hours ago
Thousands march in South Africa demanding departure of undocumented foreign nationals
Thousands of people marched across South Africa on Tuesday, demanding the departure of undocumented foreign nationals following a weeks-long campaign that has led to thousands fleeing and four deaths. Police were present nationwide for the protests, which culminated demonstrations by citizen-led groups that had set an unofficial June 30 deadline for foreigners without papers to leave. Isolated incidents, including stone-throwing and confrontations, occurred near Johannesburg, where security forces escorted some foreign nationals away from a mob. Several arrests were made for looting, and soldiers were deployed in Johannesburg and Durban overnight. Demonstrators, some brandishing sticks and flags, moved through central Johannesburg, while in Durban, protesters wore traditional warrior attire. One demonstrator, Brightness Gumbi, expressed frustration over foreign nationals running businesses while she could not afford rent, alleging they sell drugs. South Africa, a magnet for migrant labor, faces an unemployment rate above 30 percent, high crime, and service breakdowns. Groups against illegal immigrants accuse them of taking jobs and services, a claim analysts attribute to scapegoating foreign nationals for government failures. Police reported that at least two Mozambicans, an Ethiopian, and a Malawian have been killed in recent weeks. A foreign national was found dead in Durban after allegedly jumping from a building, fearing pursuit. Several African governments, including Nig