Photo Credit: Reuters

South Africa deployed thousands of police officers on Tuesday as authorities moved to prevent unrest following an unofficial June 30 deadline issued by anti-illegal immigration groups demanding undocumented foreign nationals leave the country.

The heightened tensions have already prompted about 25,000 migrants to depart in recent weeks, with thousands more from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries awaiting evacuation. Several governments have organised buses and flights to repatriate their citizens.

Security was reinforced across major cities, including Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, where large numbers of migrants sought refuge or assistance to return home after reports of job losses, evictions and growing fears of xenophobic attacks.

The anti-immigration group March and March insisted its nationwide protests would remain peaceful, although authorities warned they would not tolerate violence or lawlessness. President Cyril Ramaphosa urged calm, reaffirming that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of the state.

The government has intensified security measures to prevent a repeat of previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence, while analysts warned that migration has become a politically charged issue ahead of South Africa’s local government elections later this year.