Anti-migrant violence forces mass deportations and business exodus in South Africa

Anti-migrant violence in South Africa, fueled by a 32.7% unemployment rate, has led to attacks, looting, and at least five deaths. Protest groups have set a June 30 deadline for foreigners to leave, forcing thousands of migrants, mainly Malawians, to seek repatriation. Ghana, Nigeria, and other nations are evacuating citizens as President Cyril Ramaphosa announces a crackdown on illegal immigration amid a history of xenophobic outbreaks.

Anti-migrant protest deadline

• ▪Protesters chant "Mabahambe," a Zulu phrase meaning "They must go," during marches against migrants
• ▪Anti-migrant protest groups, including March and March and ActionSA, have set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa
• ▪Protest organizers deny their actions are xenophobic, stating they are targeting illegal immigration and want the government to prioritize its citizens

Xenophobic violence against foreigners

• ▪At least five Mozambican nationals were killed in xenophobic attacks in Western Cape province in May 2026
• ▪Police in Durban fired rubber bullets and used stun grenades against migrants who were protesting delays in their repatriation process
• ▪A Malawian woman, Esnat Joseph, reported that men with machetes attacked her husband and threatened her family at their home in Durban
• ▪A salon in Durban owned by Princess Adjei, a Ghanaian who has lived in South Africa since childhood, was looted and destroyed during a May 18 anti-migrant march

Mass migrant repatriations

• ▪Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe have organized repatriations by air or bus for their citizens fleeing the violence
• ▪South African companies like MTN Group Ltd. and Standard Bank Group Ltd. are facing pressure in other African countries due to the protests
• ▪Up to 7,000 foreigners, primarily from Malawi, have gathered in an open field in Durban seeking repatriation
• ▪South African authorities are processing thousands of migrants for deportation in Durban, with at least 1,876 identified as undocumented

South African unemployment crisis

• ▪South Africa is home to more than three million documented foreigners, who make up about 5% of the population
• ▪Analysts argue that migrants are being scapegoated for South Africa's deep economic problems, scarce resources, and failing government services
• ▪South Africa's unemployment rate is 32.7%, one of the highest in the world, with 350,000 jobs lost in the first quarter of 2026

Government migration policy response

• ▪The South African government has deported over 100,000 undocumented people in the last two years
• ▪A government initiative called "Operation New Broom" has been demolishing informal shops, often run by migrants, in Johannesburg
• ▪President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a five-point plan to manage migration, including stricter asylum rules and jail time for hiring undocumented workers

Historical xenophobic attacks

• ▪Anti-migrant sentiment and mobilization often intensify around election periods in South Africa
• ▪South Africa has a history of deadly xenophobic violence, with major outbreaks in 2008, 2015, 2016, and 2019
• ▪In 2008, xenophobic riots killed 62 people, including 21 South Africans, and displaced thousands from their homes