South Africa deploys police as anti-migrant protests loom, thousands flee

South African police were on high alert Tuesday, deployed to preemptively quell potential unrest and protests targeting undocumented foreign nationals. The day marked an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for foreigners to leave, a situation that has already prompted thousands to flee the country amid escalating xenophobic sentiment.

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All these countries are messed up, and South Africa is the America of Africa.

Officers were visible across Johannesburg, aiming to prevent violence and looting by xenophobic groups. Meanwhile, hundreds of foreign nationals sought refuge in various cities, desperately seeking assistance to depart. Many shops remained closed, and the usually bustling downtown streets were notably quiet. In Durban, small groups gathered in a park, chanting slogans like "Let them go," under the watchful eye of security forces.

Analysts note that the protests are organized by a coalition of minor political parties and citizen-led vigilante groups, which appear well-resourced and active on social media, sometimes spreading disinformation. The anti-migrant sentiment comes as South Africa, one of the continent's wealthiest nations, grapples with a high unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent, significant crime, and failing public services, making it a magnet for migrant labor.

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The xenophobic groups have got it wrong. This is a problem of governance, corruption and mismanagement.

Labor analyst Dale McKinley suggested that the anti-migrant movement is being "politically weaponized," particularly with local government elections approaching in November. He argued that the core issues lie with "governance, corruption and mismanagement," rather than the presence of migrants. Several African governments have begun organizing repatriation efforts for their citizens, with at least two Mozambicans, an Ethiopian, and a Malawian reportedly killed in recent anti-immigrant violence.

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I am a breadwinner back at home in Malawi. It is better for me to go than to die in South Africa.