South Africa Xenophobic Violence Kills Five Amid Migrant Deadline

A wave of xenophobic violence has swept across South Africa following a June 30 deadline issued by the March and March movement and the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party for undocumented migrants to leave the country. The unrest has resulted in at least five deaths, including several Mozambicans, and the displacement of thousands of families. Targeted groups include nationals from Nigeria, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Somalia, with vigilante groups like Operation Dudula leading attacks on foreign-owned businesses and residential areas.

Violence intensified in Durban and Johannesburg, where looting and the torching of shops became widespread. In Durban, the South African Police Service used rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse migrants who had camped outside the Department of Home Affairs to verify their residency status. The crisis prompted Ghana, Nigeria, and Mozambique to repatriate thousands of their citizens.

President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the scapegoating of foreigners and warned against instability, while pledging stricter enforcement of immigration laws. While March and March leaders deny responsibility for the carnage, critics argue the movement misdirects public anger over poverty and unemployment toward vulnerable migrants. International leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, have condemned the violence as a betrayal of South Africa's struggle for freedom.