Photo credit: BBC
Anti-immigration protests intensified in Johannesburg on Wednesday, as hundreds of South Africans marched against undocumented migrants and called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws.
Face2FaceAfrica reports that the rally followed similar demonstrations a day earlier in Pretoria, signalling a growing, coordinated push by anti-immigration groups pressing authorities to tighten enforcement and carry out large-scale deportations.
South Africa’s economic pull continues to draw migrants from across the continent, both through formal channels and irregular routes, in search of work and stability. That steady inflow has increasingly become a flashpoint feeding friction in communities already strained by high unemployment and limited resources.
In Johannesburg, the protest quickly disrupted daily life. Many businesses, run by both South Africans and foreign nationals, shut their doors as a precaution amid fears that unrest could spill into looting or opportunistic crime, the AP reports.
The march was spearheaded by the group March and March and drew backing from like-minded organizations such as Operation Dudula, alongside political parties including ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance.
The scale of undocumented migrants remains uncertain. Estimates frequently cited range between three and five million people, though precise figures are difficult to verify given the number of individuals without legal status.
Groups behind the protests argue that irregular migration is worsening overcrowding in cities, intensifying job competition, shrinking tax revenues, and contributing to crime and border control challenges. These concerns are amplified in a country where unemployment sits above 30%.
Tensions have at times turned into direct confrontations. There have been reports of foreign nationals being forced out of public health facilities by activists who claim migrants are stretching already limited medical supplies and services.
International concern has also mounted. Antonio Guterres recently warned about rising cases of harassment, intimidation, and xenophobic violence targeting migrants in provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Violence linked to these tensions has flared in recent weeks. In the Eastern Cape, an anti-migration protest last month led to the burning of minibus taxis and damage to public infrastructure. Separate alleged attacks on Ghanaian nationals in KwaZulu-Natal triggered diplomatic friction, with South Africa’s ambassador to Ghana summoned for explanation.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up enforcement. Over the past two financial years, more than 109,000 undocumented migrants have been deported as part of a broader crackdown.
