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South Africa is on edge as citizen-led groups have issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country, raising fears of widespread anti-immigrant violence. The situation has already led to at least four deaths and prompted thousands of African migrants to flee or seek safety in makeshift camps.

The protests are being mobilized by a loose coalition of minor political parties and vigilante groups, some appearing in traditional Zulu attire. These groups claim that migrants are responsible for crime and take jobs from locals, exacerbating tensions in communities already struggling with poverty, unemployment, and weak policing. Analysts suggest these groups are well-organized, well-resourced, and utilize social media, including disinformation, to spread their message. Political scientist Sandile Swana described the movement as "right-wing political opportunism" and a form of "black-on-black violence" diverting attention from economic issues.

While demonstrations have occurred sporadically, they intensified late last year when undocumented individuals were denied access to healthcare. The current wave of protests is fueled by growing public anger over soaring joblessness, crime, and strained resources in Africa's richest nation. Analysts believe political actors are leveraging these tensions, particularly ahead of municipal elections in November, using the influx of migrants, who constitute about 5.1 percent of the population, as a convenient scapegoat.

Recent violence has included the killings of two Mozambicans and a Malawian. Reports indicate South Africans are demanding to see identification papers and are confronting foreign nationals at their homes and workplaces. Some migrants have been told to leave by employers or landlords fearing fines or vigilante attacks. In response, several African countries, including Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, are organizing voluntary repatriations. This month alone, at least 988 Ghanaians and about 600 Nigerians have left by plane.

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The main ingredient is right-wing political opportunism. We are seeing a new form of black-on-black violence diverting attention from the true culprits of the economic crisis.