‘Come fetch your people’: 300 anti-migrants protesters call out to SADC leaders

What the report says

South Africa has become the focus of renewed anti-migrant tension as it hosted leaders from the Southern African Development Community, or SADC, while xenophobic violence and street protests were unfolding. France 24 reported that around 300 demonstrators gathered to denounce migrants, reflecting broader anger over immigration in a country that remains one of the region’s main destinations for people seeking work and safety.

The report places the protests in the context of South Africa’s deep economic strain. Despite being the continent’s wealthiest economy, the country faces unemployment above 30 percent and persistent inequality, conditions that have helped fuel resentment toward foreign nationals. The coverage suggests that migration has become a politically sensitive issue for Pretoria, especially as public frustration rises over jobs, services and security.

France 24 said the South African government has called for a continent-wide conference on migration, indicating that officials want a wider regional response rather than a purely domestic approach. The SADC gathering, held in South Africa, adds diplomatic weight to the debate because it brought together neighboring leaders at a moment when anti-immigrant rhetoric was gaining visibility on the streets.

More broadly, the story highlights a recurring challenge across parts of southern Africa: how to balance border control, labor migration and social cohesion in a region marked by economic inequality and frequent cross-border movement.