In Springs, east of Johannesburg, anti‑migrant demonstrators marched on Monday, wielding spears and chanting for the expulsion of undocumented foreigners, while President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed tougher action against xenophobic groups.

March & March’s Call for Mass Deportation of 15‑30 Million Illegal Immigrants

The campaign group March & March, led by Jacinta Ngobese‑Zuma, claims that illegal immigration in South Africa ranges from 15 million to about 30 million people. according to the source, Ngobese‑Zuma said, "South Africa is currently being invaded. South Africans have become refugees in their own country," calling for mass deportation of those who do not leave by June 30.

President Ramaphosa’s National Address and the Promise of a Harder Border Crackdown

Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but warned that authorities would not tolerate vigilante justice.. In a national address, he said , "We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence," and pledged a tougher crackdown on illegal immigration and corruption within border authorities.

Historical Context: 62 Killed in 2008 and Recurring Violence in 2015, 2016, 2019

The source notes that the worst violence against immigrants in the last two decades saw 62 people killed in 2008, with violent clashes also erupting in 2015, 2016 and 2019. In the most recent outbreak, two Mozambicans and one South African died during violence in Mossel Bay, and Mozambique reported five of its citizens killed in xenophobic attacks at the end of May.

International Repatriation Efforts and the Human Cost of Fear

Ghana has arranged repatriation flights for hundreds of its citizens, while Malawi and Mozambique organised buses to bring people home. an Ethiopian entrepreneur, who moved to South Africa in 2000, described the daily fear experienced by foreign nationals, noting that "the sad part is it’s not because they are undocumented… But none of the legal documents will protect you from the violence."

Who Is the Unnamed Buyer of the Protest Tactics?

The source does not specify who supplies the speared weapons seen at the march, leaving questions about the origin of the protest tactics.. The organizers’ vow to press ahead with their campaign suggests a sustained movement, yet the exact mechanisms of support remain unclear.