South Africans take to streets to protest against illegal immigration

Thousands of South Africans have marched to demand that undocumented foreign nationals depart the country after campaigners issued an ultimatum for them to leave.

Security forces were out in force for the nationwide protests amid fears the demonstrations would explode into the anti-foreigner violence that has convulsed the country in the past.

Anti-illegal-immigration campaign groups had issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented workers to leave the country after blaming them for crime, unemployment and overstretched services.

Campaign leaders said they would hold similar marches every week for the rest of the year in an attempt to maintain pressure.

The deadline and marches passed with isolated reports of looting, stone-throwing, arson attacks on cars and other confrontations.

Analysts said illegal immigration was expected to be a major issue in November’s local elections, with the ultimatum from campaigners significantly raising the political temperature.

Thousands of Malawians and Zimbabweans have spent recent days either camped in transit centres, descending on consulates to seek sanctuary or trying to get repatriation buses.

Nigeria and Ghana are among the countries that have arranged evacuation flights and have criticised Pretoria for not doing enough to protect their citizens.

Some of those waiting to depart told The Telegraph that, as the protest campaign had gone on, armed young men had been going door-to-door warning foreigners to leave. Several said they had been evicted by landlords who feared their presence would incite mobs.

Ngizwe Mchunu, one of the protest leaders, told The Associated Press that he blamed illegal migration for a proliferation of illicit drugs in the country.

He also complained about the high number of informal neighbourhood shops run by immigrants from other African countries, saying they should all be owned by South Africans.

“It’s a very sad story that we have been telling our government since the dawn of democracy that illegal immigration here is out of hand,” Mr Mchunu said. “It is time for our government to put South Africa first.”

The South African government has condemned the vigilantism, but ministers have also acknowledged the concern about illegal immigration, promising to tighten border security and fast-track deportations.

The recent protests have been spearheaded by a group called March and March, which is based in KwaZulu-Natal province and was founded by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a former local radio presenter.

The group had denied it was xenophobic and said it was not responsible for anti-foreigner violence.

Ms Ngobese-Zuma told supporters: “As March on March, we are not tired. From now on in the country, for as long as they are all not gone, every Thursday we march.”