South Africa Deports Over 53,000 Immigrants Amid Xenophobic Crackdown

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has deported or repatriated over 53,000 African immigrants in a month-long crackdown, intensifying pressure on foreign nationals amid spikes in anti-migrant violence and protests over unemployment and crime. Authorities report that the bulk of the expelled migrants originated from Malawi, though citizens of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique also featured prominently among those removed.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi noted that more than 80% of the individuals sent home were from Malawi, though officials declined to specify how many voluntarily returned versus those deported for lacking proper documentation. The operation follows heightened tensions linked to protests targeting immigrants, some of which escalated into attacks on foreign communities. South African police have detained 350 individuals accused of conducting unlawful immigration checks and inciting violence, including vigilante operations forcing migrants to prove residency.

The deportation surge coincides with investigations into three migrant deaths — two Mozambican nationals and one Malawian — amid protests. While Nigerian officials claimed two of their citizens were killed in such incidents, local authorities have refuted these allegations. The crisis has strained diplomatic relations, with neighboring countries condemning South Africa’s handling of migration as xenophobic. President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated calls against mob justice, though tensions escalated after anti-migrant groups set a self-imposed exit deadline of June 30 for undocumented residents (a deadline the government rejected). The climax saw thousands of Malawians crowding temporary immigration centers in Durban and Musina, where 20,000+ migrants were processed.

A spokesperson for the Southern Africa Network for Immigrants and Refugees highlighted that many legal migrants remain fearful of violence, underscoring misconceptions about undocumented populations. Meanwhile, human rights analysts warn that South Africa’s reputation as a migration hub is eroding due to crackdowns that risk deepening regional distrust.

Crude numbers and regional breakdowns from South African officials emphasize the scale of the operation: since last month’s intensified measures, over 53,000 individuals have been processed nationwide. Historical parallels were drawn to the 2008 xenophobic attacks, which left dozens dead, underscoring the cyclical nature of migratory tensions in Southern Africa.

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