South Africa militias set June 30 deadline for immigrants to leave

Militant xenophobic groups in South Africa have intensified attacks on foreign residents, entering hospitals and homes to force them out. The groups announced a deadline of 30 June for all immigrants to leave the country, reviving the “March and March” movement that calls for mass deportations.

Experts say the violence is rooted in long‑standing political and economic tensions dating back to the Mandela era. An estimated 3–4 million migrants, mainly from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana and Uganda, live in South Africa, many in the informal economy that accounts for a trillion rand in activity. High youth unemployment—over 45 %—and perceived competition for jobs fuel anti‑immigrant sentiment.

The African National Congress (ANC) has been criticised for failing to address structural problems such as poor public services, corruption and the shift from an industrial to an informal economy. Critics argue the xenophobic rhetoric is used as a political tool to divert attention from these deeper issues, while the militias operate independently of the state.