South Africa's anti-immigrant unrest tests its pan-African standing

Melissa arrived in South Africa a decade ago, sending money home to her parents in Zimbabwe. Now, she is packing her bags, no longer feeling safe in the country. "I am planning to go back home, because I’m no longer safe in this country," she told The Media Line. She added that many leaving, including herself, possess legal documentation but are still forced to depart.

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I am planning to go back home, because I’m no longer safe in this country.

Melissa's situation reflects a broader exodus of foreign nationals from South Africa, with tens of thousands leaving due to rising anti-immigrant sentiment, sporadic violence, and anxieties about further unrest. This domestic issue has evolved into a significant diplomatic challenge for South Africa, a nation that has historically championed Pan-African solidarity in its foreign policy. Nations such as Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria have facilitated the return of their citizens, expressing grave concerns over their safety.

By early July, Malawi reported repatriating over 38,000 nationals, while Zimbabwean authorities indicated that more than 60,000 citizens had returned amidst the unrest and intensified immigration enforcement. Anti-immigrant groups, notably "March and March," set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave, following weeks of attacks and confrontations. The violence has had fatal consequences, with Mozambique reporting five of its citizens killed in Mossel Bay in late May. Ghana and Nigeria have also voiced concerns over the deaths of their nationals, as thousands of migrants sought refuge in consulates, temporary camps, and repatriation centers.

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Some of us have papers, but now we are forced to go.

"We just want people to be in the country legally," stated Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of "March and March," rejecting the xenophobic label for the movement. President Cyril Ramaphosa met with protest organizers, urging lawful pursuit of their demands and acknowledging the need for "substantial reform" in South Africa's immigration system. He emphasized strengthening border management and enforcement while cautioning private groups against usurting state authority. Police and soldiers were deployed nationwide on June 30, with authorities reporting 108 peaceful marches out of 120 recorded, though 12 required police intervention.

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We just want people to be in the country legally.