South Africa braces for anti‑immigrant protests, thousands line up for repatriation

South Africa is preparing for nationwide anti‑immigrant marches scheduled for 30 June, after citizen groups set a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged a firm response and said security forces are ready, while police have announced a massive deployment to keep order. The protests, led by the March and March movement, have been warned may turn violent, prompting heightened security in hotspot provinces such as KwaZulu‑Natal.

At the same time, thousands of foreign nationals – mainly Malawian, Zimbabwean, Mozambican and Congolese migrants – have gathered at makeshift repatriation camps in Durban, including the old Drive‑In site. Over 10,000 people have been processed so far, with 8,230 repatriated via the Beitbridge port in less than two weeks. Hundreds continue to queue for buses home, while aid groups warn of a deepening humanitarian crisis as the deadline approaches.