In a field beside a mosque in Durban's Sherwood suburb, around 10,000 terrified migrants now huddle in makeshift tents, hoping to find a safe route out of South Africa. They are among the estimated 25,000 foreigners who have already been repatriated by South African police – most from other African countries – as anti-migrant protests that began in early May reached their climax on Tuesday, the deadline set by vigilante groups for all undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Thousands of protesters marched in South Africa's main cities on Tuesday, prompting a huge police presence backed by private security guards. Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed that the army had been deployed “on a contingency basis” in parts of Johannesburg and Durban. Shops in city centres were closed, and many immigrants stayed off work.
“25,000 migrants repatriated as anti-migrant protests in South Africa peak on deadline day, with 10,000 seeking refuge in a field.”
The protests, led by groups such as March and March and Operation Dudula, have seen vigilantes go door to door demanding papers. In Germiston, about 15km from Johannesburg, demonstrators evicted residents they suspected were foreign nationals and handed them over to police, insisting their documentation be checked. Some protesters threw bricks, breaking windows in Yeoville, a suburb with many African migrants.
Police said the protests had been largely peaceful, with isolated incidents of looting. Five people were arrested for the alleged looting of a foreign-owned shop in Soweto, Johannesburg's biggest township. About 10 people were also arrested for looting in KwaZulu-Natal province, while a woman was arrested for assaulting a police officer and a man for “intimidation” following reports of a foreign national being beaten up.
In Hillbrow, a Johannesburg suburb with a high migrant population, police confirmed the arrest of three more people after two people were injured during protests. According to police, the trio “opened fire at protesters who were passing through the street” and the marchers retaliated by “torching the suspects' vehicle”. Among the injured was a 17-year-old.
The leader of March and March, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, said they would protest every Thursday for the next six months to force the government to “get rid of” undocumented migrants. Demonstrators have worn traditional Zulu attire, and Zulu activist Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, who has more than 1.5 million Facebook followers, has led large crowds through the streets.
The unrest has left at least two dead, though the Malawian government claims the real number is five. Other African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana, have evacuated hundreds of their citizens. One undocumented Malawian told the BBC he was “happy to be going back” but “heartbroken” to be leaving behind four young children.