Police units deployed across South Africa before anti-immigration protests

Lead

South African authorities have deployed police units and military personnel across the country ahead of planned anti-immigration protests, as the deadline set by protest groups for undocumented foreigners to leave passes. The demonstrations, which began on Tuesday, were called by an organisation known as March and March, which has demanded that all undocumented foreigners leave the country by June 30.

Police and military presence was visible in major cities, with security personnel patrolling Johannesburg's central business district and many shopkeepers deciding not to open. The deployment came after weeks of protests that have displaced thousands of mainly African expatriates and raised fears of a repeat of the xenophobic violence that killed 62 people in 2008.

Coverage Comparison

The five news outlets that reported the story took different approaches to the events. Africa News, Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, The Guardian, and the South China Morning Post all carried the basic facts of the protests and the security deployment, but each placed a different emphasis.

Africa News highlighted the statement from March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, who insisted that the movement was peaceful and that any lawlessness should be blamed on the failure of state policing and border control. Al Jazeera emphasized security concerns and the history of anti-foreigner violence, framing the protests as xenophobic. AllAfrica focused on the concerns of the UN and Amnesty International, which accused March and March of encouraging unlawful actions. The Guardian condemned anti-migrant sentiment, highlighting reports of violence and intimidation, and also pointed to the contributions of foreign-born migrants to the economy. The South China Morning Post reported that thousands of people joined the protests, that President Cyril Ramaphosa met with movement leaders, and that he urged protesters to avoid unrest and observe the law.

The tone of the coverage ranged from informative to critical. AllAfrica and The Guardian both used language like "unlawful" and "vigilantism" and were critical of anti-migrant groups. Al Jazeera described the groups as "xenophobic," and The Guardian also used that term. Africa News and the South China Morning Post maintained a neutral tone in their leads.

Key Claims

The protests were called by March and March, a movement that has demanded that all undocumented foreigners leave South Africa by June 30. The deadline has no legal basis, as both Al Jazeera and Africa News reported. The group's leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, said that the movement is peaceful and that any lawlessness should be blamed on the government's failure to control borders.

President Cyril Ramaphosa met with three of the anti-migrant movement's leaders on Monday, according to his spokesman Vincent Magwenya. The president emphasised that "the right to protest is coupled with the responsibility to observe the law and to protest peacefully," Magwenya said. The meeting was intended to urge protesters to avoid any unrest.

South Africa's acting police minister, Firoz Cachalia, said that the police service "has elevated its operational readiness across all provinces, with comprehensive deployment plans in place to protect communities, critical infrastructure and key public spaces." He stressed the right to peaceful protest but warned that "criminality, intimidation, violence, the destruction of property and any attempt to undermine public safety will not be tolerated."

The Defense Minister Angie Motshekga said that the military will secure strategic sites, such as airports, and stand ready to assist police if needed.

The United Nations is closely monitoring the situation, according to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. He said the world body is watching the planned protests and urged that any actions remain peaceful and that authorities protect everyone regardless of their migration status.

Amnesty International accused the March and March movement of encouraging "citizen's arrests" of suspected migrants under the Criminal Procedure Act. Amnesty's executive director, Shenilla Mohamed, said that "violence, intimidation, harassment and self-appointed 'enforcement' of immigration laws is unlawful and has no place in our society." She noted that "history has shown us where this path leads and how quickly things can turn deadly."

The protests are set in the context of South Africa's unemployment rate above 30 percent and a history of anti-foreigner violence. In the lead-up to the protests, there were reports of violence against foreigners, including men with sticks chanting "abahambe" ("they must leave") and interrogating and beating migrants in Johannesburg and Durban. The official death toll from previous xenophobic attacks was 62 killed in 2008, and more than 350 people were killed in July 2021 in the country's deadliest unrest since the end of apartheid.

The protests have also highlighted the economic contributions of foreign-born migrants, who make up an estimated 4% of South Africa's 62 million people, despite claims that they number as many as 15-20 million. Some sources emphasise that crime statistics show low crime rates among foreigners, countering claims that migrants drive crime.

Perspectives

March and March: The movement's leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, insists that the group is peaceful and that any potential lawlessness should be blamed on the failure of state policing and border control. She says the movement is demanding the government prioritise poor and vulnerable South Africans, and that undocumented immigrants should return to their countries.

South African Government: President Ramaphosa met with movement leaders to urge them to avoid unrest, emphasising the right to protest peacefully while respecting the law. Police and military deployments were announced by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia and defence minister Angie Motshekga, who stressed the protection of communities and infrastructure.

UN and Amnesty International: The UN is monitoring the situation and calls for calm and peaceful protests, urging protection of all people. Amnesty International is accusations that the March and March movement encourages unlawful "citizen's arrests" and acts of vigilantism, which they say is a path that has led to deadly violence in the past.