One dead and over 900 arrested during anti-immigration protests in South Africa

South Africa witnessed widespread anti-immigration protests, resulting in one death and the arrest of over 900 individuals, including undocumented foreigners. Police confirmed on Wednesday that the nationwide operations on Tuesday led to the detentions. Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, head of the National Joint Intelligence Operations Structure (Natjoins), stated that most of those arrested were foreigners in irregular situations or involved in looting.

Mosikili added that some arrests were for public violence, harboring illegal immigrants, and looting spaza shops, which are often run by foreign nationals. Serious incidents of violence were reported in Gauteng province, including the death of a man during looting in Alexandra and a shooting with two injured in Hillbrow, both areas of Johannesburg. In total, 120 marches occurred across the country; 108 were peaceful, while twelve required police intervention.

The Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces recorded the highest number of arrests, with 215 and 208, respectively, primarily for violence and immigration law violations. Despite the unrest, Mosikili thanked protest organizers for cooperating with law enforcement and encouraging their followers to remain calm and respect the country's laws.

Thousands participated in the marches, organized by anti-immigration groups who had set a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. These protests follow a recent wave of xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants. Organizers blame migrants for South Africa's economic problems, poor public services, and high crime rates, with some instances of migrants being denied access to healthcare and education.

In response to the escalating tensions, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Nigeria, and Malawi have repatriated hundreds of their citizens. Kenya, Malawi, and Lesotho have issued security alerts for their nationals in South Africa. The South African government has condemned the attacks while asserting its right to control irregular immigration. Xenophobic tensions against African migrants are a recurring issue in South Africa, often leading to violent protests, particularly in vulnerable communities.