Thousands of undocumented migrants in South Africa are living in fear as a controversial June 30 deadline set by anti-migrant protesters approaches, prompting many foreign nationals to seek refuge, return home, or leave the country voluntarily.
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, up to 7,000 migrants—mostly from Malawi—have gathered in an open field after fleeing their homes amid reports of intimidation and threats. Aid organizations have been providing food, blankets, and emergency support to those displaced.
Among them is 36-year-old Malawian national Esnat Joseph, who says armed men forced her family to leave their home.
“I am very scared and traumatized,” Joseph said, describing how a group of South African men allegedly threatened her family with machetes and whips. Her husband was seriously injured during the incident and remains hospitalized.
The situation follows months of demonstrations led by anti-migrant groups, including March and March and opposition party ActionSA, demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30. Protesters have frequently marched through cities carrying sticks and chanting “Mabahambe”—a Zulu phrase meaning “They must go.”
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the targeting of migrants, warning that blaming vulnerable people will not solve the country’s economic problems.
In a recent national address, Ramaphosa stressed that no individual or group has the authority to demand proof of nationality from people in public places.
“There is no space for xenophobia, racism, sexism, Afrophobia or any other forms of intolerance in South Africa,” the president said.
The government has also announced measures to tackle illegal migration, including stricter asylum policies, expanded digital identification systems, and penalties for employers who hire undocumented workers at exploitative wages.
Several African countries, including Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe, have organized repatriation efforts for citizens wishing to return home.
According to officials, approximately 3,500 migrants have already volunteered to leave South Africa through government-assisted transport programs.
Many migrants say they no longer feel safe in the country. A Nigerian returnee who recently arrived in Lagos after nearly nine years in South Africa described the environment as increasingly hostile toward foreigners.
South Africa continues to face severe economic challenges, including an unemployment rate of 32.7% and rising inequality. Official data indicates that approximately 350,000 jobs were lost during the first quarter of 2026, with young people disproportionately affected.
Anti-migrant activists argue that undocumented foreigners place additional pressure on public services such as schools, hospitals, and housing.
However, human rights groups reject claims that migrants are responsible for South Africa’s economic difficulties. They warn that political rhetoric ahead of November’s local government elections risks fueling xenophobia and misinformation.
Observers are increasingly concerned that tensions could trigger another wave of xenophobic violence similar to the deadly attacks that erupted in 2008, when 62 people were killed and thousands displaced. South Africa also experienced anti-foreigner violence in 2015, 2016, and 2019.
Foreign nationals—including refugees and legal residents—report feeling increasingly unsafe. Some have sought protection outside government offices, while others have stopped sending their children to school out of fear.
Social media videos targeting foreigners have further intensified tensions, with activists openly urging migrants to leave before the June 30 deadline.
As the deadline draws closer, anxiety continues to grow among migrant communities across South Africa. While authorities insist that immigration laws must be enforced legally and peacefully, many foreign nationals fear becoming targets regardless of their legal status.
At the temporary camp in Durban, buses continue arriving to transport migrants back to their home countries. When the first evacuation bus departed, crowds reportedly chanted “Siyahamba”—Zulu for “We’re leaving.”
For thousands of migrants, the coming days could determine whether they remain in South Africa or abandon the lives they have built there in search of safety elsewhere.