- BIST10011,053-1.49%
- USD49.63+0.05%
- EUR55.70+0.05%
- GOLD4,028.50-0.79%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,520+0.25%
- October 23, 202610°
- BIST10011,053-1.49%
- USD49.63+0.05%
- EUR55.70+0.05%
- GOLD4,028.50-0.79%
- INTEREST36.00%-1.00
- BITCOIN81,520+0.25%
- October 23, 202610°
Anti-immigrant protests grow in South Africa as police intervene and thousands flee
As protests against undocumented immigrants intensify in South Africa, police take to the streets and many businesses close. While the government rejects threats, thousands of foreign nationals leave the country.
During anti-immigrant protests held in various cities of South Africa, businesses lowered their shutters while police were deployed on the streets. Groups that gave undocumented foreign nationals until Tuesday to leave the country claimed that otherwise arrest and deportation processes would begin.
The government rejected these threats as baseless. President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a statement on Monday that the right to protest does not give the freedom to ‘threaten people, intimidate, or engage in acts of vandalism and violence.’ Ramaphosa said, ‘No matter the reason, taking the law into one’s own hands is lawlessness.’
Al Jazeera correspondent Haru Mutasa, reporting on a protest in Johannesburg, stated that the protesters were South Africans from both working and middle classes, from different tribes of the country. Mutasa said, ‘They all have one goal: They want the government to do something about undocumented foreigners in the country. They say they have heard words but see no change on the ground, and question why they cannot find jobs even though some are university graduates.’
Some of the protesters marched in the Yeoville and Hillbrow areas, where many African immigrants live alongside locals. Mutasa said that protest leaders initially tried to coordinate the marches and keep them peaceful, but some groups broke away, caused chaos, tried to break windows, and police struggled to intervene.
One group headed toward the main highway, while another set fire to the area around a trash container where homeless people lived in Yeoville. Mutasa said, ‘Police descended on the area en masse, and some soldiers also came and dispersed the crowd.’
The protests, which started with small gatherings in April, have grown in recent weeks. According to AFP news agency, at least two Mozambicans, one Ethiopian, and one Malawian have lost their lives in xenophobic attacks that have been ongoing for weeks in the country.
Although groups say they target undocumented immigrants, foreigners who are legally in the country are also at risk. Thousands of foreign nationals have camped in front of consulates and shelters for protection. Some said that landlords and employers evicted or fired them out of fear of punishment or attack.
Many foreign nationals have already left the country. Some left on their own, while others sought help from their embassies. Several African countries sent planes and buses to evacuate their citizens.
As elections scheduled for November approach, some political parties call for peaceful protest while other politicians increasingly intensify anti-immigrant rhetoric. South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence; in 2008, 62 people died in outbreaks, and new attacks occurred in 2015 and 2016. In 2019, armed groups attacked businesses owned by foreigners around Johannesburg, resulting in at least 12 deaths.
Stay Updated with Ally Daily
Subscribe to be informed about special news, developments and announcements. We will keep you informed.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy
