South Africa’s anti-immigration protests persist as divisions expose deeper governance challenges

What the report says

South Africa’s anti-migrant protests have continued into a sustained campaign, with the movement centered on regular Thursday marches and new plans for legal action. According to Xinhua, cited by The Independent Uganda, the group March and March said it would keep pressing until undocumented migrants leave the country. Its spokesperson, Sandile Dube, also said the group intends to challenge some state agencies in court over alleged misconduct. The protests have spread across all nine provinces since April and have reflected wider public frustration tied to unemployment, weak growth and pressure on public services.

The South African government says it is trying to enforce immigration laws while avoiding abuses or violence. Deputy Minister in the Presidency Kenny Morolong told Xinhua that the country remains a constitutional democracy and that authorities are arresting people who commit crimes under the banner of anti-migrant activism. Officials have also expanded deportation and repatriation processing, including a center in Musina near the Zimbabwe border. The article says tens of thousands of migrants were processed there and at ports of entry in recent weeks, though it does not present those figures as final totals.

The reporting also notes broader fallout, including concern from Ghana and Nigeria over the treatment of their nationals. International Organization for Migration comments included in the article warn against xenophobia and urge evidence-based communication. Academics and civil society figures quoted by Xinhua said the protests may deepen social polarization and damage South Africa’s diplomatic standing, while some voices inside the movement have begun questioning how long the marches can continue.