South Africa steps up migrant arrests as violent protests flare

(Bloomberg) — The South African government announced the recent arrests of thousands of undocumented migrants as it sought to keep a lid on growing anti-foreigner protests fueled by factors such as rampant crime and unemployment.

In the past month, 7,400 illegal migrants have been arrested for breaking immigration laws, bringing the total for 2026 to more than 40,000 to date, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said on Sunday.

Kubayi was speaking at the first briefing of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration since President Cyril Ramaphosa’s televised address to the nation a week ago when he announced a plan to crack down on illegal immigration.

Weeks of anti-migrant protests have rocked Africa’s largest economy, with sporadic deadly attacks and condemnations from countries including Ghana and Nigeria. These nations, along with Malawi and others, have sent planes or buses to bring their citizens who want to return home.

“The malicious campaigns are being deliberately run to damage South Africa’s hard-earned international reputation,” Kubayi said. “We call on all South Africans to reject the path of vigilantism, reject the noise of disinformation and join hands with the government.”

Foreigners are often blamed for fueling unemployment and crime in South Africa and putting increased pressure on already overburdened government services. About 60 people died and 50,000 were displaced as a result of attacks targeting migrants in 2008, and there were major flare-ups in 2015 and 2019.

South African television stations on Sunday broadcast footage of women and children boarding buses to Malawi from a makeshift camp in the coastal city of Durban where more than 7,000 migrants have gathered to seek protection. Last week, 2,740 people were voluntarily repatriated, South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said.

South Africa is also facing social media backlash from other African nations as its national soccer team plays in the World Cup in North America.

“The brand hurts,” Kubayi said. “We can’t lie about that. The minister cited the negative impact on South African businesses operating elsewhere on the continent and artists whose scheduled performances have been scrapped.

South Africa is one of many countries facing backlash against immigrants. In Germany, the far-right AfD party has benefited from voters’ fears about asylum seekers, while US President Donald Trump has made mass deportations a central pillar of his second term. In the United Kingdom, immigration and crime have become one of the country’s most pressing political issues.

Swiss citizens looked set to reject a proposal by the nation’s right wing to cap the country’s population at 10 million people, but an early vote count showed about 45% backed the plan in a nationwide plebiscite.

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