South Africa is on edge after a nationwide deadline set by anti-immigrant activist groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country expired at midnight, triggering demonstrations that prompted the United States to scale back operations at four of its diplomatic missions.
U.S. mission facilities in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria are operating on a reduced schedule on Tuesday, June 30, according to a security notice issued Monday by the U.S. Mission to South Africa. The mission cited planned demonstrations as the reason for the precaution. The move reflects growing concern that the protests, organized by civil society groups and activist movements demanding tougher immigration enforcement, could turn violent and target foreign nationals, raising fears of a repeat of the deadly xenophobic attacks in 2008 that killed 62 people across the country.
The campaign, led by groups including March & March, has gathered momentum over recent weeks through demonstrations calling for the mass deportation of undocumented migrants and tighter border controls. One of its most prominent figures, Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, better known as “Phakel’umthakathi,” who has more than 1.7 million Facebook followers, has openly claimed responsibility for organizing the June 30 deadline. Speaking to supporters, he warned that after Tuesday, “I can’t control the people of South Africa.”
In its advisory, the U.S. Mission warned that “any large-scale protest environment can become dangerous.” It urged American citizens to remain vigilant, avoid crowds, monitor local media and police updates, follow instructions from South African authorities, and plan alternative travel routes where disruptions are expected. Emergency consular services will remain available through the mission’s usual emergency contact channels despite the reduced operations.
The tensions had already turned deadly before Tuesday’s main demonstrations. Three people, including a Malawian man and two Mozambican nationals, were killed in protest-related violence in KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape in the days leading up to the deadline. The unrest has also prompted thousands of foreign nationals to flee. More than 25,000 people have already been transported out of the country, while thousands more are sheltering in repatriation centres, consulates and temporary camps. Among them are more than 2,000 Zimbabweans staying at a Cape Town reception facility designed to accommodate only about 300 people.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has tried to reassure the public while acknowledging concerns over illegal immigration. He warned that his government “will not tolerate any attempts to destabilize the country by anyone, whether marching or otherwise.” He also condemned attacks on foreign nationals, saying they do not represent “the views of South Africa’s people, nor reflect our government’s policy.” Instead, he accused opportunists of exploiting legitimate public frustrations, particularly among poorer communities, under the guise of community activism. Ramaphosa also acknowledged that undocumented migration places pressure on public services and distorts the labour market, but cautioned against blaming migrants for the country’s broader economic problems.
Authorities have mounted a major security response. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said police leave had been cancelled and extra personnel deployed across the country as part of a $36 million security operation. Thousands of police officers and soldiers have been stationed at identified hotspots, including Johannesburg’s CBD and Hillbrow, major freight corridors in Gauteng, Durban, Pietermaritzburg and several towns in the Western Cape. By early Tuesday, police in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Western Cape reported no major incidents linked to the planned protests. Officials in Limpopo also dismissed online videos purporting to show widespread looting, saying they were recycled footage being shared as misinformation.
By: Andrews Kwesi Yeboah