Nationwide Anti-Immigration Protests in South Africa: Over 900 Arrested
South Africa witnessed nationwide anti-immigration protests on Tuesday, with police arresting more than 900 people during demonstrations that were largely peaceful but marred by sporadic violence and looting. The protests, organized by a coalition of civil society groups including the "March and March" movement, were held to mark an unofficial deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Police reported that of the 120 marches held across the country, 108 were peaceful, while 12 required police intervention. Acting National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said arrests ranged from public violence and robbery to immigration violations. The Western Cape recorded the highest number of arrests at 215, followed by the Eastern Cape with 208.
"South Africans exercised their constitutional right and the overwhelming majority did so peacefully, responsibly and within the framework of the prescribed laws," Mosikili said.
Violent Incidents and Casualties
Despite the mostly peaceful nature of the protests, there were isolated incidents of violence. In Johannesburg's Alexandra township, police confirmed that one person was shot dead during looting of foreign-owned shops. Reports also emerged of looting, vandalism, arson, and assaults in several areas, with some store owners estimating losses running into millions of rand.
A single report by Reuters, cited in one of the articles, claimed at least four people were killed in the violence and looting, though this figure was not confirmed by other sources. The discrepancies highlight the chaotic nature of the protests and the difficulty in obtaining accurate casualty figures.
Government Response
President Cyril Ramaphosa held an emergency meeting with protest organizers on Monday, calling for calm. In a statement, he acknowledged the demonstrators' concerns about illegal immigration, border management, and pressure on public services, calling these "real" and "deserving to be heard." However, he drew a line at unlawful behavior, stating, "Whatever the motivation, taking the law into one's own hands is vigilantism and has no place in our constitutional democracy."
Police deployed maximum resources to identified hotspots throughout the country, including Gauteng, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Western Cape, in response to isolated incidents of looting and criminality.
Impact on Foreign Nationals
Several businesses believed to be owned by foreign nationals were looted and vandalized during the protests. Some store owners were uncertain whether they would be able to reopen. Reports also indicated that some foreign nationals had fled ahead of the protests, and in Durban and Johannesburg, landlords allegedly evicted foreign tenants illegally to avoid trouble. A report by Reuters added that 100 Congolese nationals were reported sleeping on the streets of Durban.
Context and Reactions
The protests mark the largest migration-related demonstrations since anti-migrant violence erupted in South Africa in 2008. The demonstrations drew thousands of mostly poor or unemployed South Africans who say foreign migrants have taken jobs by accepting lower wages and contributed to higher crime rates.
While the government and police emphasized the peaceful nature of most protests, the violence in some areas raised concerns about the fragility of the situation. The official police statement described the protests as "mostly peaceful" with isolated incidents, a characterization echoed by some reports but contested by others that highlighted widespread clashes and destruction.
As the country reels from the events, the government faces the challenge of addressing legitimate concerns about immigration while ensuring the rule of law and protecting all residents, regardless of nationality.