South Africa faces wave of Xenophobic violence as migrants flee ahead of June 30 deadline

South Africa is bracing for potential unrest ahead of a June 30, 2026, deadline set by the anti-immigrant group March and March for undocumented foreigners to leave. Amid rising xenophobic violence, including attacks on homes and businesses, thousands of migrants have fled to makeshift camps. Countries like Malawi and Nigeria are repatriating citizens. While President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against destabilization, critics blame the crisis on government mismanagement and severe economic issues, including a youth unemployment rate exceeding 60%.

Xenophobic violence against migrants

• ▪Mobs in South Africa have attacked immigrant homes and businesses, resulting in the deaths of at least one Malawian and several Mozambican nationals in 2026
• ▪Vigilante groups in South Africa have raided neighborhoods, looted migrant-owned businesses, and intimidated individuals perceived as foreigners regardless of their legal status
• ▪Anti-immigrant protesters in South Africa have marched through streets chanting "Mabahambe" or "Abahambe! Sekwanele!", which translates to "They must go! Enough!"

Economic scapegoating of migrants

• ▪Anti-immigrant groups in South Africa blame migrants for high crime levels and the country's severe unemployment rates
• ▪South Africa's youth unemployment rate exceeded 60% in early 2026, while the overall unemployment rate stood at over 30%
• ▪Analysts state that South Africa's migration crisis is fueled by deep social and economic crises, including poverty, inequality, and government mismanagement

March movement June deadline

• ▪The anti-immigrant movement "March and March," led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has ordered all undocumented migrants to leave South Africa by June 30, 2026
• ▪The "March and March" organization has not specified what actions it will take against migrants who remain in South Africa past the June 30, 2026 deadline

Government border enforcement response

• ▪South African police face low public trust and are currently being investigated for corruption and political interference by the Madlanga Commission established in July 2025
• ▪South African President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the government will not tolerate attempts to destabilize the country and promised to crack down on undocumented migration
• ▪South African Police Minister Firoz Cachalia admitted that authorities reacted too slowly to rising xenophobic rhetoric and mobilized security measures costing an estimated 600 million rand

Migrant displacement from homes

• ▪Thousands of migrants have fled their homes and established makeshift encampments in cities like Durban and Cape Town while awaiting repatriation
• ▪Governments of Malawi, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique are actively working to repatriate their citizens from South Africa due to the rising violence

Historical xenophobic attacks

• ▪South Africa has experienced recurring waves of xenophobic violence since the end of apartheid in 1994, including riots in 2008 that killed over 60 people
• ▪The proportion of migrants in South Africa's population grew from 2.1% in 1996 to 3.9%, or approximately 2.4 million people, in 2022