South Africa Deploys Military and Police Ahead of Anti — Immigration Protests Johannesburg, South Africa – In a bid to prevent a recurrence of the 2008 anti-migrant riots that left 62 people dead, South African authorities have mobilized the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) in response to upcoming anti-immigration protests. Security personnel, including those from the SANDF, were observed patrolling Johannesburg’s central business district, where many shops remained closed due to fears of violence.
The protests, organized by groups like March and March, are set against an unofficial deadline of June 30 for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Organizers of the protests assert their commitment to non-violence. Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and March, declared, “We are not calling for violence… No one will be killed on the 30th of June and no looting will take place in our name.
” The police deployment is intended to prevent mass-scale looting and mob violence, reminiscent of the 2008 riots.
The recent unrest, which began in May and June, has already seen violence against foreign nationals, including five Mozambican nationals who have been killed. South Africa hosts an estimated 4% of its 62 million population as foreign-born migrants, a number that has led to a complex economic and social situation. Despite crime statistics showing that only a small fraction of crimes are committed by foreigners, the narrative of African migrants as a scapegoat persists in a country addressing high unemployment and wealth inequality.
The situation has prompted neighboring countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda, to repatriate hundreds of their citizens.
On social media, images have surfaced of Malawians camped outside their consulate in Johannesburg, awaiting processing and transport out of the country.
As the deadline looms, South Africa’s focus is on maintaining order and preventing a repeat of the 2008 violence, ensuring public safety while managing the tensions surrounding the migrant population.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: The guardian
Source: Eromo Egbejule
