JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Hundreds of South Africans took to the streets of Johannesburg on Wednesday to protest high levels of illegal immigration, sparking violence. Tension between locals and foreign nationals.
The demonstration is part of a wider wave of protests on Tuesday, including in the capital Pretoria. Anti-immigration groups are demanding this strict immigration enforcement Law and mass deportation.
As one of Africa's most industrialized economies, South Africa attracts immigrants – legal and illegal – who seek economic opportunities.
The protests in Johannesburg resulted in the closure of many shops owned by both locals and expatriates due to fears of possible looting or opportunistic crimes.
Organized by the anti-immigration group March and March, it also attracted similar organizations including Operation Dudula and the political parties ActionSA and Patriotic Alliance.
Themba Mabunda of ActionSA, who participated in the march, said, “We are not xenophobic, we just want to do the right thing in South Africa, put South Africans first. We want to have foreigners in our country, but those foreigners must live in the country legally.”
Estimates of undocumented and illegal immigrants to South Africa vary considerably, with a figure of 3 to 5 million often cited. The exact updated statistics are disputed because many foreigners are undocumented.
Anti-immigration groups argue that illegal immigration causes urban congestion, labor tension, tax revenue loss, and crime and border security threats. Unemployment Is more than 30%.
In some instances, anti-immigration groups have chased foreign nationals away from public health facilities, claiming they are contributing to drug shortages and overcrowding.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently expressed concern over reports of xenophobic attacks and harassment and intimidation against migrants and foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape province.
Last month an anti-migration march in the Eastern Cape province resulted in minibus taxis and public infrastructure being violently burned, while alleged attacks on Ghanaian citizens in KwaZulu-Natal sparked a diplomatic incident in which South Africa's ambassador to Ghana was summoned to explain the attacks.
South Africa has deported 109,344 illegal immigrants over the past two financial years as the department stepped up immigration enforcement.