Police said the protests were largely peaceful despite isolated incidents of looting and attempted looting. Authorities confirmed several arrests but did not immediately disclose how many people had been taken into custody.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi praised demonstrators who protested peacefully while warning that those responsible for criminal acts would face legal consequences.

“Those who chose to exploit the marches to commit criminal acts will face the full might of the law,” Kubayi said. “Police will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute all those responsible for criminal conduct.”

Migration Debate Fuels Nationwide Demonstrations

The demonstrations followed a June 30 deadline set by several anti-immigration groups demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa.

Activists argue that illegal immigration contributes to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services by increasing competition for jobs and resources.

South Africa’s government has rejected the deadline, emphasizing that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of state authorities.

Among the organizations leading the demonstrations were March and March, Operation Dudula and Progressive Forces.

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with leaders of some protest groups on Monday, urging them to conduct peaceful demonstrations while rejecting claims that migrants are primarily responsible for the country’s economic and social challenges.

Protest Leaders Cite Crime and Employment Concerns

Ngizwe Mchunu, one of the protest organizers, told The Associated Press that illegal immigration has contributed to drug trafficking and increased competition for small businesses.

He criticized the number of neighborhood shops operated by immigrants from other African countries and argued they should instead be owned by South African citizens.

“It is time for our government to put South Africa first,” Mchunu said.

Marchers in Johannesburg included men carrying traditional fighting sticks and women waving South African flags while singing liberation songs.

Demonstrators carried signs calling for South Africa to withdraw from the United Nations Refugee Convention and expressing concerns about immigration and public services.

One protester, Nkele Thebe, said demonstrators wanted the government to act on illegal immigration without outside interference.

Another participant, Bongani Cindi, argued that concerns over undocumented migration should not automatically be dismissed as xenophobia.

Rights Groups Reject Claims Blaming Migrants

Amnesty International South Africa criticized efforts to blame migrants, refugees and asylum seekers for the country’s economic difficulties.

The organization argued that unemployment, inequality and strained public services are rooted in the legacy of apartheid, persistent economic disparities and shortcomings in South Africa’s asylum system.

Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed warned that misinformation and xenophobic rhetoric could increase the risk of violence against foreign nationals while diverting attention from broader structural challenges facing the country.

Heavy Security Presence Across Major Cities

Protests also took place in Durban and parts of the North West and Free State provinces.

Police deployed hundreds of officers in Johannesburg, Durban and other areas to prevent violence.

Many businesses, including shops owned by both South Africans and foreign nationals, closed before demonstrators arrived. In some communities, private security companies were hired to protect commercial properties.

Previous anti-immigration demonstrations in South Africa have resulted in attacks on migrants and damage to foreign-owned businesses, making authorities particularly cautious ahead of Tuesday’s protests.

Growing Number of Migrants Leave South Africa

As demonstrations continued, increasing numbers of migrants sought assistance from their embassies and consulates to return home voluntarily.

Thousands of people, primarily from neighboring Zimbabwe and Malawi, requested transportation back to their countries.

Officials reported increased traffic at the Beitbridge border crossing between South Africa and Zimbabwe as buses carrying departing migrants left the country.

Thousands of Malawian nationals also returned home through a temporary repatriation center established in Durban.

Nigeria has likewise seen an increase in voluntary returns. Three groups of Nigerian migrants have returned this month, including 271 people who arrived in Lagos on Tuesday.

Nigerian authorities said 632 citizens have now been repatriated after more than 1,000 registered for voluntary return, with additional flights expected.

Migrants Describe Fear and Uncertainty

Some returning migrants said they left because they no longer felt safe.

Emmanuella Akagbosun, who moved from Nigeria to South Africa in 2017, said she feared for her life after the shop she shared with her sister was looted during anti-migrant unrest.

“We are not safe, so we had to leave,” she said after arriving in Lagos.

Another Nigerian returnee, Fintan Opara, who had lived in South Africa for 18 years, said many Nigerians no longer believed they were welcome in the country.

Justice Minister Kubayi said authorities have repatriated 4,286 individuals and deported an additional 419 people in recent days as immigration enforcement continues.

Tags: South Africa, Immigration, Cyril Ramaphosa, Operation Dudula, Amnesty International, Johannesburg, Durban, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Xenophobia, Migration

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For 52-year-old Iniebong James, arriving back in Lagos brought an immediate sense of relief after fleeing growing hostility toward foreign nationals in South Africa. That feeling quickly gave way to uncertainty as he began adjusting to life in a country he had left a decade earlier in search of better opportunities.

James was among the Nigerians repatriated from South Africa this month after violence and anti-migrant demonstrations intensified. He told The Associated Press that he had lived and worked as a car mechanic in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province after overstaying a visitor visa. According to James, he decided to return after being injured during an attack by anti-immigrant protesters in May.

His experience reflects a broader challenge facing many returnees who are now attempting to rebuild their lives in an economy struggling with inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs.

Migration Driven by Economic Pressures

Before leaving Nigeria, James worked as a truck driver in Lagos. He said the closure of his employer during Nigeria’s 2016 economic downturn left him searching for alternatives.

In addition to concerns about employment, he cited frequent electricity outages as a major factor in his decision to relocate to South Africa, a destination long viewed by many Africans as offering stronger economic prospects and better infrastructure.

South Africa has historically attracted migrants from across the continent because of its comparatively advanced economy. However, the country has also experienced recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence, with some South Africans blaming foreign nationals for unemployment, pressure on public services, and criminal activity.

Recent demonstrations calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country have fueled concerns among foreign communities and prompted several African governments to organize repatriation efforts for their citizens.

James said he is grateful to have returned safely but worries about finding employment in a country facing significant economic challenges.

“I would submit my CV if anybody can accept me, but I am still hoping for the government to help me with a job,” he said.

Returnees Confront Rising Costs

The economic landscape awaiting many returnees differs sharply from the one they left behind.

Since President Bola Tinubu introduced major economic reforms in 2023, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies and currency policy changes, Nigerians have faced rising prices across many sectors.

Inflation has increased significantly, placing additional pressure on households already struggling with high living costs. According to returnees, everyday expenses now consume a much larger share of income than they did a decade ago.

James pointed to fuel prices as an example of the dramatic change. When he left Nigeria in 2016, fuel cost around 85 naira per liter. Upon his return, he found prices had risen to approximately 1,400 naira per liter.

“Everything is too expensive,” he said.

The Nigerian government has stated that returning citizens will receive assistance and support before reuniting with their families. However, officials have not publicly detailed long-term reintegration plans for repatriated migrants.

Starting Over After Years Abroad

Migration experts say returning home after many years abroad can be more complex than commonly assumed.

Margaret Monyani, founder of the Johannesburg-based OLAM Africa Research Institute, said reintegration often involves social, economic, and emotional challenges.

“Returning is not always as straightforward as it sounds,” Monyani said. “People just think, go back home and start again. No, what is home?”

That challenge is particularly evident for younger migrants who spent formative years outside Nigeria.

Omotola Adeniyi returned to Nigeria after living in South Africa for more than a decade. She moved there as a child in 2015 and completed her secondary education in the country.

After graduating, however, she struggled to find employment and said many employers rejected her because she was a foreign national.

Unable to afford a return ticket on her own, Adeniyi accepted assistance from Nigeria’s repatriation program. Yet after spending 11 years abroad, she said adjusting to life in Nigeria feels unfamiliar.

Regional Concerns Over Anti-Migrant Sentiment

The recent wave of anti-immigrant protests has drawn reactions from governments across Africa.

Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and other countries that repatriated citizens from South Africa have publicly expressed concern about the treatment of foreign nationals. Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities also summoned South African diplomatic representatives following the unrest.

In a statement delivered to returning migrants, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the importance of safety over material losses.

She told returnees that protecting themselves and their families was worth any sacrifice required when escaping violence or hostility.

Despite recurring tensions, analysts note that South Africa continues to attract migrants because of economic opportunities that remain limited in many parts of the continent.

Monyani said that while South Africa faces significant social and economic challenges of its own, many of its institutions continue to function more effectively than those in several neighboring countries.

For many migrants, that reality means the difficult choices that prompted them to leave home in the first place remain largely unresolved.

Tags: Nigeria, South Africa, Migration, Repatriation, Bola Tinubu, Xenophobia, Economy, African Migrants

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