South Africa is plunged into chaos as anti-immigrant protests escalate, sparking a wave of violence, robbery, and displacement that has already forced thousands of foreign nationals to flee the country. Since March 2026, over 160,000 people from nations including Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe have departed, with at least 54,000 having been deported – a stark reminder of the deep-seated resentment towards immigrants fuelled by high unemployment and inequality.
For those living in informal settlements such as Thembelihle, south of Johannesburg, the situation is particularly dire. Malawian residents have borne the brunt of the violence, with armed robberies and assaults targeting their communities. The case of Eibraheem Hussein, a 60-year-old Malawian who was beaten and robbed in his home on June 29, serves as a stark example of the horrors faced by many immigrants. Further attacks have occurred, including on July 16, when gangs speaking Zulu raided multiple Malawian households, telling residents to 'go home'. Those affected recounted harrowing experiences, with physical assault and theft leaving many destitute and unable to afford their return journeys.
The protests, which intensified around June 30 – an unofficial deadline set by campaign groups for undocumented immigrants to leave South Africa – have continued unabated throughout July. Foreign nationals are still being forcibly removed from their homes during marches, with some police observers present. The situation has been exacerbated by the involvement of criminal elements, who are exploiting the chaos to terrorise vulnerable immigrant populations.
The influx of immigration into South Africa began after 1994, when then-President Nelson Mandela welcomed people from across Africa. This, combined with poverty and political repression in neighbouring countries, saw the foreign-born population almost treble to 2.4 million between 1996 and 2022, representing 3.9% of the 62 million population. While the South African government has committed to improving immigration data, the increase in foreign nationals has become a convenient scapegoat for domestic economic challenges.
The humanitarian consequences are far-reaching. Last week, thousands of Malawians, including women and young children, were forced to sleep outside their consulate in north Johannesburg as they awaited buses for repatriation. Many have lost their livelihoods, with reports emerging of individuals being fired from long-held jobs due to their nationality. Médecins Sans Frontières has also reported numerous cases of migrants struggling to access essential healthcare.