South Africa's anti‑immigrant protests spark mass repatriations and debate

South Africa is gearing up for a large‑scale anti‑immigrant mobilisation organised by the March and March movement, which has set a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against any attempts to destabilise the nation and announced police deployments to prevent violence. The government has also warned that criminal acts, intimidation and property damage will not be tolerated during the demonstrations.

In response, thousands of Malawian nationals – along with other migrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and elsewhere – are being voluntarily repatriated from South Africa. By late June, more than 3,000 Malawians had returned, though officials admit that transport capacity is insufficient to move all the estimated 15,000‑plus applicants before the deadline. Returnees are being processed at border posts such as Beitbridge, receiving registration, shelter and basic assistance. Analysts note that while anti‑immigrant sentiment is fueled by high unemployment and service pressures, research shows foreign‑born workers hold a small share of formal jobs, suggesting deeper economic and structural issues underlie the unrest.