SA on tenterhooks as riots fears escalate

Despite assurances from police and politicians – including President Cyril Ramaphosa, his Police Minister and others, among them several mayors – SA is on tenterhooks ahead of tomorrow’s planned nationwide protests against undocumented foreigners, notes Legalbrief Africa. As thousands of illegal foreigners, mainly from across the continent attempt to flee the country due to intensifying violence, threats and intimidation, before the 30 June deadline set by protesters for their voluntary deportation, South Africans fear a repeat of the lootings and killings that marked the 2021 protests sparked by the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. That was the deadliest and most destructive civil unrest of the democratic era. It cost 354 lives and billions in damage to infrastructure. The Sunday Times reports that nearly 10 000 volun­teers have been mobil­ised to closely mon­itor their com­munit­ies, par­tic­u­larly in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), where Zuma hails from, and which is the epi­centre of the protest action. Police are rely­ing on thou­sands of ears and eyes on the ground as part of their oper­a­tional strategy. They have enlis­ted 'ambas­sad­ors of safety' – includ­ing private secur­ity com­pan­ies, busi­nesses, reli­gious and cul­tural lead­ers, as well as uni­ons – to shore up a united effort to ensure the coun­try remains stable. Thou­sands of immig­rants have already left the coun­try, with buses head­ing north packed with frightened people who took refuge at make­shift centres.

Government, however, has insisted that tomorrow (Tuesday) will be a normal day and not a national shutdown. It has warned that no private individuals or groups have the authority to demand documentation from members of the public, block access to schools, clinics, hospitals, or businesses, or decide who may live in communities. The Sunday Tribune reports that Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, from the March and March group, which has called for the protests, said there would be no violence, killings, or looting during the demonstrations, while the organisations maintained that their campaign was directed at illegal immigration and not foreign nationals as a whole. The movement and its allies also reportedly said they would proceed with the demonstrations, while insisting that the government remained responsible for maintaining law and order. Media reports said police and private security structures had identified Gauteng, KZN, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape as possible flashpoints.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia on Sunday said police would not block lawful protests but would act to prevent violence and disorder. IoL reports that he warned police to uphold the law, avoid excessive force and stay neutral: ‘Our role is not to take sides in any public debate,. Our role is to uphold the Constitution, enforce the law without fear, favour or prejudice, and ensure that public order is maintained.’ And Deputy Police Minister Dr Polly Boshielo warned that law enforcement agencies will act decisively against any violence, looting or criminality. Boshielo said the police had noted the spread of messages on social media platforms, WhatsApp groups, and within communities calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave SA by the end of June. She added that although organisers publicly maintained that the demonstrations would be peaceful, several protests linked to the campaign had already been associated with violence, murder, looting, and the destruction of property, notes News24. Boshielo attributed the unrest to misinformation being spread by some groups, which she said falsely blamed foreign nationals for legitimate socio-economic challenges facing communities.

Ramaphosa, meanwhile, has been meeting leaders of traditional and royal houses as part of a broader government effort to contain rising anti-immigrant tension. The Inter-ministerial Committee’s (IMC) direct engagement with the Zulu royal family follows the use of traditional Zulu regalia and songs by protest figures Ngizwe Mchunu and Nkosikhona ‘Phakelumthakathi’ Ndabandaba, in their various anti-immigrant marches, reports Business Day. The upshot is that Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithi has urged restraint. He has asked the royal regiments and chiefs to prevent ‘foreign nationals from being harmed or beaten’, the head of these traditional structures said on Friday, reports News24. Sipho Mhlongo, the leader of the amabutho (Zulu royal regiments), told izinduna (headmen) and amakhosi (chiefs) that Misizulu had urged restraint during the planned protests. ‘The king said he is not stopping anyone from marching because it is a constitutional right,’ Mhlongo said. ‘He also knows the nation is aggrieved about many things. He is not against the march and knows that people who are in SA illegally should return home. He only asks for one thing: that we prevent foreign nationals from being harmed or beaten. No one should be seen taking cabbage from hawkers, looting stores, or stealing.’

SA cannot be expected to be feted on the world stage for the superb performances of our national football or rugby teams, but act like thugs and haters against other citizens of the world back at home. In a News24 analysis, Professor Jonathan Jansen says SA is making a big mistake by focusing only on vigilante groups. ‘Black South Africans are scapegoating foreign nationals for everything from “stealing our jobs” to “rising crime” and (laughably) “taking our women”. White South Africans, too, have suddenly discovered the law: “I am not xenophobic, but they are here illegally.” Irony is dead: generations of white South Africans are wealthy today because of laws that defined most black South Africans as foreigners who belonged in tribal homelands. What we need right now is not a R600m budget for police security to curb the excesses of the coming marchers. There is a need for a powerful and sustained counter-narrative to the hatred of foreigners, e.g, 60% youth unemployment has nothing to do with foreign nationals who work mainly in the informal sector. Rights commissions, foundations, religious organisations, social activist groups and individuals of conscience, and, where they can be found, political parties with a conscience should speak out with one voice all the time, especially during those periods between marches.’

Freight operators are delaying deliveries, mapping alternative routes and weighing additional security before anti-migrant demonstrations, as they seek to shield workers and cargo from possible disruptions along some of the busiest transport corridors. Moneyweb reports that the contingency planning illustrates how a campaign that began with demands for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country is impacting critical industries. While the police have announced an expanded security deployment expected to cost about R600m to prevent violence, logistics companies say uncertainty is forcing them to make operational changes. Meanwhile, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says its new documentation requirements for truck drivers accessing Durban’s container terminals were designed as a safety measure and have no connection to the government’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The state-owned port operator introduced the driver-truck management system in May 2025 in its Durban terminals, registering companies, drivers and trucks as part of efforts to improve safety in terminal environments. The system is being rolled out in phases, with phase one completed at the Durban multipurpose terminal. Phase two, which takes effect in July at Durban container terminal pier one, requires truck drivers to carry a valid licence and a medical certificate of fitness. SA drivers must present their identity documents. Foreign nationals must show a valid passport, asylum permit or work permit. ‘The induction ensures that all truck drivers are familiar with the safety protocols, security processes, and conditions of entry to the terminals to reduce the risk of safety incidents involving third parties,’ TPT told Business Day.

Hundreds of Malawian nationals who have been camping at a temporary repatriation site in Durban will be moved to a newly established processing centre in Musina, Limpopo, reports News24. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration resolved to relocate the nationals following a significant increase in those requiring humanitarian assistance and repatriation. Over 15 000 Malawian nationals have already been processed for deportation and voluntary repatriation, with the national government confirming verification of additional individuals is ongoing. The eThekwini municipality in Durban said the new facility in Musina had been established to enhance the verification and processing of undocumented foreign nationals; facilitate faster and more efficient repatriation through the Beitbridge Port of Entry, and reduce the pressure on existing repatriation facilities and improve overall operational efficiency. In Pietermaritzburg, the attacks on foreign nationals in the Jika Joe informal settlement led to thousands of Malawians fleeing their homes and seeking refuge in an abandoned government building, which has now become a temporary repatriation camp, reports GroundUp. South African and Malawian authorities have been scrambling to process the immigrants and arrange transport to Malawi.

The Malawi Government is yet to respond to the plight of hundreds of its nationals seeking repatriation from Johannesburg, reports EWN. Nearly 400 Malawian nationals spent the weekend camped outside the Malawian Consulate General in Sandton, hoping for assistance as the 30 June deadline draws closer. Many said they were left without answers, despite waiting for hours outside the closed consulate. Dozens of men, women and children arrived with their belongings on Saturday and Sunday, hoping to receive guidance or transport home. However, the consulate remained closed throughout the weekend, with those gathered saying they received no communication from Malawian officials about when or whether they would be assisted. The gathering follows days of repatriation efforts that have already seen thousands of Malawian nationals leave SA amid anti-illegal immigration protests in parts of the country. GroundUp reports that after spending the night sleeping rough in the rain, hundreds of immigrants gathered outside the Zimbabwean Consulate were relocated to an official repatriation site on Sunday morning. Marquee tents had been erected by volunteers on Saturday night, but they were not big enough to provide shelter for everyone. Women and children were prioritised. Others sheltered under plastic tarps. Some of the people had been sleeping outside the consulate for five nights. It rained heavily on Sunday morning as the City of Cape Town, the Department of Home Affairs and the Zimbabwean Consulate began relocating people to the Home Affairs refugee centre in Epping.

In other developments:

* The Congress of South African Trade Unions has warned that tomorrow remains a normal working day and that any participation in protest action would be unprotected, with workers risking dismissal and loss of income. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said workers should ignore calls to stay away from work. ‘They must ignore this thing. This is a bunch of vigilante hooligans,’ he said. ‘It’s an unprotected march. Workers risk their jobs and their salaries. Our unions are completely against it and we don’t support it.’ – Saturday Star

* The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) has warned of the  risks of repeating some of the darkest episodes of our democratic history unless government acts decisively against anti-migrant violence, hate speech and vigilante groups whose activities have intensified in recent months. The organisation argues that public frustration over unemployment, poverty and deteriorating public services is being redirected towards migrants instead of the structural causes of SA’s economic crisis. ‘Everybody wants, and has the right to, decent work, dignified public services, food, shelter, and safety,’ the IEJ said. ‘The anger people feel towards these unacceptable conditions is understandable and needs to be addressed. The IEJ also rejects such conditions being used to justify violence against vulnerable groups.’ – IoL

* Benoni has had a taste of what’s to come. Led by the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied SA, residents of Benoni in Ekurhuleni flooded the streets on Friday, sticks in hand, voices raised in song and ululation, demanding that only South Africans should hold jobs locally. The march, they said, was about creating jobs for locals who have been ‘sidelined’ for too long. Businesses confronted by the marchers agreed to revisit staffing arrangements to ensure they were not employing undocumented foreigners. – News24

* Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has been talking to foreign diplomats and businesses to discuss safety at a time when he claims international visitors are questioning whether or not it would be safe for them to travel to SA. Winde found himself fielding calls from organisers of a big health conference planned for Cape Town in September. He said he has spent the past week not only talking to event organisers but also to businesses and the heads of mission of the US, European and African nations to address concerns about whether foreigners were still safe in SA. ‘People come here for conferences,’ said Winde, adding that he told organisers of these events: ‘We’re on it, we’re going to manage this.’ The protests, Winde argued, cast a shadow over Brand SA within the global space. – News24

* Parliament’s Peace and Security committees have called for closer co-ordination between the Departments of Correctional Services and Home Affairs to determine the number of foreign nationals in SA prisons and speed up the deportation of those eligible once they have served their sentences. Kgomotso Ramolobeng, chair of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, said improved integration between correctional services and immigration systems would enable authorities to identify inmates eligible for lawful deportation earlier, speed up the processing of immigration matters and help ease pressure on the country’s overcrowded prisons. Department figures show SA’s prisons hold 27 880 foreign nationals, comprising 14 614 awaiting-trial detainees and 13 266 sentenced offenders. Overall, 12.4% of sentenced inmates are foreign nationals. The total inmate population stands at 170 518 against an approved bed capacity of 107,054. – Business Day

* More than 8 200 foreigners were processed for repatriation at the Beitbridge border post over a 12-day period, with the Border Management Authority (BMA) warning non-compliant transport operators are causing delays in cross-border processing. BMA commissioner Michael Masiapato said the authority had facilitated the ‘lawful and orderly repatriation’ of foreigners through the country’s busiest land border post. Between 12 and 24 June, the BMA processed 6 709 Malawians transported in 112 buses and 1 521 Zimbabweans transported in 26 buses. However, BMA said processing delays were experienced  after 17 buses arrived without the required emergency travel certificates. – TimesLIVE

* A total of 100 733 business registration applications had been received nationally by 24 June, including 42,151 from foreign nationals, with KZN recording the highest number of applications and approvals. This was confirmed by the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration chairperson Mmamoloko Kubayi. Kubayi said the Department of Small Business Development has launched a programme to accelerate small business registration to ensure all traders operate legally and have the necessary permits. ‘The cumulative permitting and licensing data as at 24 June 2026 show 100 733 applications received nationally, of which 42 151 relate to applications where the owner is a foreign national. ‘Of the total applications, 26,367 were approved, including 6,749 approvals where the owner is a foreign national,’ she said. – IoL