Tuesday, June 30, 2026, is the deadline that anti-immigration groups in South Africa gave all undocumented foreign African nationals to leave the country.
Ahead of the deadline, tens of thousands of foreign African nationals – both documented and undocumented – are either fleeing South Africa or taking refuge in their embassies and consulates in the country.
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has urged the anti-immigration groups to embark on their protests and marches peacefully and refrain from attacking foreign nationals living in the country.
Ghana’s High Commission in South Africa has urged Ghanaians who are still in the country to avoid being on the streets and also not to open their businesses.
History has shown that despite similar warnings, these marches have resulted in the brutalisation and even the deaths of foreigners.
Jancinta Ngobese-Zuma, the founder and leader of March-and-March, one of the main movements organising the marches, in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, indicated that the protest would happen in all nine provinces of South Africa.
“We are trying to get the North West on board, even though there are a few glitches, and the Free State as well. But so far all the nine provinces look to be participating in tomorrow’s protest,” she said.
She refuted claims that the protests were xenophobic, saying that they are meant to send a message to the government about the immigration challenges facing the country, including the fact that foreigners are taking jobs that belong to ordinary South Africans.
“It is a message to our government, and you can no longer label us as xenophobic for standing up for what is right. Our security is at risk, our resources are depleted, jobs are being taken over and replaced by cheap labour. There’s a lot going on in terms of crime as well, and South Africa cannot survive trying to absorb all of these problems just to save an image that is not true,” she added.
Watch a video of her remarks below:
Source: Ghanaweb