South Africa: Thousands of migrants flee the country ahead of feared anti-immigrant protests

Thousands of migrants are leaving or attempting to leave South Africa ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests on Tuesday, amid high social tension and fears of violence. In several major cities, scenes of departures are multiplying, with queues and makeshift camps outside consulates.

In Durban, thousands of Malawian nationals waited this week in a makeshift camp to organize their return to their country of origin. In Cape Town, hundreds of Zimbabweans slept on the sidewalk outside their consulate, hoping to leave the country before the June 30 deadline set by militant groups.

This deadline was announced by anti-immigration organizations, which are demanding the departure of undocumented migrants. Many foreigners fear that these gatherings could turn violent, as the country has already been shaken in recent weeks by episodes of xenophobic tensions, some of which have been deadly.

In response to this situation, South African authorities have reinforced their police presence in several areas considered sensitive. The acting police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province called on protesters to respect the law, while President Cyril Ramaphosa assured them that security forces were ready to intervene.

The movement behind the protests, March and March, claims it is not calling for violence, but warns that it cannot be held responsible for any unrest during the planned rallies. This stance fuels concerns about how the situation on the ground is developing.

In this context, many migrants, particularly from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, are seeking to leave the country quickly. However, the authorities in these countries are facing logistical difficulties in organizing the repatriation of their citizens, while migratory pressure intensifies as the announced date approaches.