South Africa’s President, Cyril Ramaphosa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that authorities will deal decisively with anyone attempting to destabilise the country during planned nationwide anti-immigrant protests scheduled for June 30.

The protests follow an ultimatum issued by citizen groups demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country, amid growing tensions over illegal immigration.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Ramaphosa assured citizens that security agencies had been placed on high alert to maintain law and order, stressing that anyone who violates the law during the demonstrations would face the full force of the law.

Police have announced enhanced security measures nationwide, while government officials are engaging traditional leaders and other stakeholders to prevent violence.

The protests come after weeks of xenophobic unrest that has reportedly claimed several lives and prompted thousands of undocumented migrants from countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana and Nigeria to voluntarily return home. Temporary camps have also emerged in Durban and Johannesburg as many await repatriation.

South Africa, which has an unemployment rate of about 32 per cent, has witnessed growing resentment toward migrants, with some citizens blaming them for rising crime and job shortages. However, Ramaphosa has maintained that migrants are being unfairly scapegoated for the country’s socio-economic challenges.

The latest tensions have revived memories of previous xenophobic attacks, including the deadly 2008 riots that left 62 people dead and the 2019 violence in which at least 12 people were killed.