Key facts
- African migrants in South Africa report living in 'extreme fear' due to resurgent xenophobic sentiment.
- Anti-immigrant group March & March has given illegal immigrants until June 30 to leave the country.
- Recent violence has resulted in deaths and displacement, with some migrants seeking to return home.
- Surveys show a decline in South Africans' willingness to welcome immigrants, coinciding with rising unemployment.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged migration concerns and promised a crackdown on illegal immigration.
Migrants in South Africa are experiencing profound fear and uncertainty as anti-immigrant sentiment intensifies, fueled by organized marches demanding the departure of undocumented individuals. The campaign group March & March has set a June 30 deadline for illegal immigrants to leave, though consequences for non-compliance remain unspecified. This resurgence of xenophobia has led to violence, with Mozambique reporting five citizens killed in late May and South African police confirming three deaths during unrest in Mossel Bay. Many migrants, including those from Mozambique and Malawi who sought refuge in Kleinmond, are now looking to their home governments for assistance in returning.
South Africa has a long history of relying on migrant labor, particularly for its mining sector. Following the end of white-minority rule in 1994 under Nelson Mandela, the country welcomed African migrants. However, persistent poverty and economic instability in neighboring nations, such as Zimbabwe's hyperinflation, have driven increased migration. Endemic unemployment and inequality within South Africa have led some citizens to blame immigrants for their economic woes, periodically igniting violent xenophobic outbreaks. Past incidents include riots in 2008 that resulted in 62 deaths and displaced over 150,000 people, and a 2015 event where at least five people were killed.
Surveys by the Human Sciences Research Council indicate a significant drop in the proportion of South Africans who would welcome immigrants, falling from 25% in 2020 to 15% last year. This coincides with a rise in the national unemployment rate to 43.1% since 2020. Sharon Ekambaram of Lawyers for Human Rights noted that migrants are often scapegoated for societal problems. Census data reveals that South Africa's foreign-born population nearly tripled to 2.4 million between 1996 and 2022, representing 3.9% of the total population. March & March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma claims the number of illegal immigrants ranges from 15 to 30 million, asserting that South Africa is being 'invaded'.
March & March, founded in March 2025, has been organizing protests nationwide, including in KuGompo City, Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. Ngobese-Zuma stated the group is funded by concerned South Africans and social media contributions. Ngizwe Mchunu, a radio DJ acquitted of inciting riots, is another prominent figure. In the lead-up to local elections, parties like ActionSA and Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) are leveraging the anti-immigrant sentiment. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the legitimacy of concerns regarding migration and promised stricter measures against illegal immigration and border corruption, while warning against groups inciting lawlessness. Political analyst Otlotleng Mokgatle highlighted the volatile nature of the issue and the potential reputational risks for parties exploiting it. Meanwhile, migrants like Sandy Khumalo, who has a residency permit and runs a restaurant, express deep stress and uncertainty about their future.