Gambiaj.com – (JOHANNESBURG, South Africa) — South Africa is on high alert as an ultimatum issued by anti-immigration groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country expired on Tuesday, raising fears of fresh xenophobic violence across several major cities.
Authorities have deployed thousands of police officers and placed the military on standby amid concerns that planned demonstrations could trigger unrest similar to previous outbreaks of violence against foreign nationals.
The deadline, set outside any legal framework by several anti-immigration organisations, comes after weeks of rising tensions that have already left four people dead and displaced an estimated 25,000 individuals, according to South African authorities.
Uncertainty has gripped communities across the country as residents and business owners brace for possible disturbances. While some South Africans believe the extensive security arrangements will help prevent violence, others fear the situation could escalate rapidly.
One of the groups leading Tuesday’s mobilisation, March and March, has called for demonstrations against undocumented migrants. Although organisers have publicly prohibited weapons at rallies, campaign materials have carried the slogan “until victory,” fueling concerns about potential confrontations.
The government is determined to avoid a repeat of the deadly unrest that followed the imprisonment of former South African President Jacob Zuma in 2021, when riots and looting claimed more than 350 lives.
Security forces have concentrated their presence around identified hotspots, particularly in Durban and Johannesburg. Authorities have also partnered with private security companies, deploying surveillance cameras and helicopters to monitor developments throughout the day.
The latest wave of xenophobic violence has particularly affected migrants from Malawi. Officials say approximately 25,000 people have fled South Africa in recent weeks. In response, the Ministry of Home Affairs relocated a voluntary repatriation centre from Durban to a site roughly 1,000 kilometres away in the country’s north, aiming to keep vulnerable migrants away from areas expected to host demonstrations.
For many migrants who remain in South Africa, fear has become a daily reality.
Among them is Pastor Raphael Bahebwa, who has been overseeing a refugee encampment outside the Department of Home Affairs for more than a month. Speaking ahead of the demonstrations, he said many residents had lost their fear of death after weeks of uncertainty.
“We are waiting to see what happens,” he said, expressing hope that the promised police deployment would provide protection while warning that any attack on legally present migrants would expose their plight to the world.
In Durban’s city centre, where many foreign nationals operate small businesses, shop owners have largely chosen to close their stores as a precaution.
Business owners fear becoming targets of violent identity checks, looting, and physical attacks that have accompanied previous anti-immigration protests. Even migrants with valid documentation have opted to stay away from their workplaces as uncertainty over the outcome of Tuesday’s demonstrations continues to grow.
The developments have renewed concerns about xenophobia in South Africa, where periodic outbreaks of violence against foreign nationals have long posed challenges for authorities and strained relations with neighbouring countries.
As the country awaits the outcome of the protests, security agencies remain on high alert to prevent further loss of life and displacement.
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