In South Africa, hostility toward foreigners has flared repeatedly for decades. Now, protests against irregular migration have turned increasingly violent in multiple cities, driven by right-wing movements and vigilante groups demanding that undocumented migrants leave by June 30. Fears of escalation are rising.
Jo Veary, co-director of the African Center for Migration & Society at the University of the Witwatersrand, links radical protest groups to right-wing populist parties such as ActionSA, which she says are backing them.
Groups like "March and March" and "Operation Dudula" are central. Veary also points to ties with former President Jacob Zuma's MK Party. "They blame foreign residents for the shortcomings in the country's social services. Ultimately, it's about gaining political support and votes in the elections," Veary told DW.Xenophobia in South Africa: Who’s really paying the price?To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
With local elections due in November 2026, tensions are high. "What we are currently witnessing is a government crisis in South Africa, in which foreigners are being made scapegoats and held responsible for the state's failure to fulfill its duties and promises," she stated, highlighting inequality and unemployment.
