Lead

South Africa is on edge as an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country has passed. Thousands of migrants have already left or sought repatriation amid weeks of sometimes violent xenophobic unrest. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned against intimidation and violence, saying that only the state may enforce immigration laws.

Coverage Comparison

Reports from Africa News, Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, BBC — World, and Deutsche Welle agree on the core facts: anti-immigrant groups had set June 30 as a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave, protests have been planned across the country, and thousands of African migrants have already departed or are in the process of leaving.

Africa News quoted President Ramaphosa as telling the National Council of Provinces: "The enforcement of immigration laws rests with the state" and "The security forces are ready." Deutsche Welle also reported that the president said "security forces are ready" to respond to potential unrest. BBC — World noted that Ramaphosa has warned demonstrators to act peacefully and responsibly, while also accepting the need for immigration reforms.

Deutsche Welle reported that anti-immigrant groups set June 30 as a deadline, with protests planned across South Africa and large numbers of security forces deployed. Al Jazeera noted that the deadline "has come and gone" and that thousands of foreigners left in the lead-up, while others are waiting for assistance to do the same.

AllAfrica reported that the African Diaspora Forum (ADF), a coalition of migrant groups representing roughly 70,000 migrants in the country, said that Somali migrants prefer to remain in South Africa despite the ongoing protests and the risks they face. Another AllAfrica piece focused on the spread of false information related to the protests, providing examples of debunked claims.

Key Claims

  • Anti-immigrant groups set June 30 as a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave South Africa, as reported by Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, and AllAfrica.
  • Thousands of African migrants have already left or been repatriated from South Africa due to anti-immigrant protests and violence, as reported by Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, and BBC — World.
  • President Cyril Ramaphosa says 'security forces are ready' to respond to potential unrest, as reported by Deutsche Welle and Africa News.
  • Protests have been planned across South Africa, with marches authorized in several cities, as reported by BBC — World and Deutsche Welle.
  • The government has warned organizers to ensure no violence occurs during the protests, as reported by BBC — World.
  • Somali migrants prefer to remain in South Africa rather than return home due to ongoing conflict and political unrest in Somalia, as reported by AllAfrica citing the chairperson of the African Diaspora Forum.
  • Governments of nearby African countries, including Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, and Nigeria, have arranged repatriations for their citizens, as reported by Deutsche Welle and AllAfrica.
  • The South African government claims to have deported 100,000 foreigners in the last two years, as reported by Africa News.

Perspectives

President Cyril Ramaphosa and the South African government

President Ramaphosa has maintained that dealing with immigration is the sole responsibility of the government and that vigilante groups cannot enforce immigration laws. He has emphasized that foreign nationals who are lawfully in the country are entitled to the protection of the law and the Constitution, and he has urged protestors to act peacefully without intimidation or violence.

Anti-immigrant groups

Anti-immigrant groups have set the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave and have threatened a "national shutdown" if the government does not act. They blame undocumented migration for South Africa's high unemployment and have organized protests across the country. These groups are not named in the provided material, but their actions are reported by multiple outlets.

Migrant communities, including the African Diaspora Forum

Migrants, including those from Somalia, express fear and uncertainty. The African Diaspora Forum says Somali migrants prefer to stay in South Africa even if the situation is unbearable, because returning to Somalia is not a viable option due to ongoing conflict and political unrest. Other migrants, such as a Malawian man who spoke to the BBC, express mixed emotions: happy to return home but heartbroken to leave behind family.

Fact-checkers and authorities

Fact-checkers are actively debunking false claims circulating on social media, such as a fake notice claiming that people who catch illegal foreigners would receive R250. The government has warned the public not to take the law into their own hands, and only authorized officials may enforce immigration laws.