3,500 Migrants Flee South Africa Ahead of June 30 Deadline as Ramaphosa Warns Against Scapegoating
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 16
3,500 Migrants Flee South Africa Ahead of June 30 Deadline as Ramaphosa Warns Against Scapegoating
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 16
Summary
Up to 7,000 foreigners have gathered in a Durban field and about 3,500 have already volunteered to leave South Africa as anti-migrant groups press a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to go.
Door-to-door threats with machetes and whips, reports of assaults, and harassment in public have driven the exodus, with even documented refugees saying they are being targeted.
Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe have organized bus or air repatriations, while vehicles are reportedly backing up at the Mozambique border as more migrants try to leave.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said scapegoating vulnerable people would not solve South Africa's economic crisis, even as his government says 40,000 illegal immigrants have been arrested this year.
The crackdown is unfolding amid 32.7% unemployment and ahead of November local elections, reviving fears of xenophobic violence seen in 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Is South Africa's war on migrants a distraction from its deep economic failures and record unemployment?
Can new digital IDs and stricter rules stop mob violence before the June 30 deadline?
South Africa’s 2026 Anti-Migrant Crisis: Escalating Xenophobic Violence, Government Crackdown, and Regional Fallout
Overview
South Africa is facing a worsening anti-migrant crisis, with a sharp rise in xenophobic violence and attacks on foreign workers since April 2026. This surge is fueled by long-standing economic challenges, such as high unemployment and poverty, and is amplified by hate speech on social media. The government has responded with stricter immigration controls and deportations, aiming to restore order. However, these measures have sparked diplomatic tensions with other African countries and raised concerns about human rights. The crisis highlights the need for evidence-based policies and regional cooperation to address the root causes of xenophobia and promote social stability.