South Africa has deployed more than 3,000 soldiers nationwide to bolster security as anti-migrant protests intensify, with organizers vowing to stage weekly demonstrations amid fears of further violence, Reuters reported.
The military deployment, authorized by South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, began at the end of June and is aimed at supporting police in responding to potential unrest.
Earlier this week, thousands of people marched through major cities, with some demonstrations turning violent as shops were looted and clashes broke out.
Protest organizers have given undocumented foreign nationals until Tuesday to leave South Africa ahead of another round of anti-immigrant rallies, prompting fears of further violence. Thousands of migrants from elsewhere in Africa have either returned to their home countries or sought refuge in temporary camps, fearing attacks.
The group organizing the protests “March and March” has maintained that its demonstrations are peaceful.
According to Reuters, protesters argue that undocumented migrants are taking jobs from South African citizens, placing additional pressure on public services and contributing to crime.
Recent surveys suggest anti-immigrant sentiment has intensified in South Africa. A Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) poll found that only one in six South Africans would welcome all foreigners, while 42% said they would welcome none.
Similarly, an Afrobarometer survey showed that seven in 10 respondents viewed immigrants’ economic impact negatively, while 85% supported reducing or halting the number of refugees entering the country. Moreover, an Ipsos survey found that nearly three-quarters of respondents did not trust immigrants from elsewhere in Africa.
In 2023, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) estimated that the country was home to about 3.1 million migrants, representing roughly 4.1% of the population, down from 5.6% a decade earlier.
