The $30 million undocumented immigrant claim

A protest in Springs, east of Johannesburg, was peaceful according to public broadcaster SABC , but underscored deepening social tensions. Organizers, March & March, have demanded undocumented immigrants leave the country by June 30, without specifying consequences for non-compliance. Their leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, alleged that illegal immiration ranges from 15 to 30 million-a figure far exceeding official estimates-and claimed South Africans have become refugees in their own country.

The demonstration, characterized by participants in traditional dress carrying spears and sticks , was a call for tougher government measures against illegal immigration. Chanting and singing, demonstrators echoed Ramaphosa's pledge to clamp down on vigilante groups.

South Africa hosts over three million foreigners, about five percent of its population, amid unemployment exceeding 30 percent, intensifying competition for jobs and services.

A decade of xenophobic outbreaks

Xenophobic outbreaks have recurred for over a decade: 62 people were killed in 2008, with further violence in 2015, 2016, and 2019.. Recent attacks in May led Mozambique to report five citizen deaths, and South African police noted two Mozambicans and one South African died in Mossel Bay.

The unrest has triggered diplomatic actions and highlighted the fragility of social cohesion in one of Africa's largest economies , where economic hardship fuels scapegoating of migrants.

President Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but stressed that legitimate grievances were being exploited for political and criminal agendas.

Foreigners flee in fear

Last month, hundreds of foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Somalia sought protection in Durban after being ordered to leave.. Many appealed to their governments for repatriation.. Ghana has arranged flights for several hundred citizens, while Malawi and Mozambique organized buses.

An Ethiopian entrepreneur, residing since 2000 and married to a South African, described pervasive fear among legal immigrants, noting that documentation does not protect them from violence.

The unrest has exposed the vulnerability of migrants in South Africa, where xenophobia has become a deadly reality.

President Ramaphosa's promise

President Ramaphosa pledged state action against groups accused of fuelling xenophobic violence, warning that authorities would not tolerate individuals taking the law into their own hands.

He promised a crackdown on illegal immigration and corruption within border authorities, emphasizing that only state officials may demand proof of nationality.

Organizers welcomed Ramaphosa's attention to the issue but vowed to continue their campaign.