Urgent call for action as fears of violence, looting and riots grows

Humanitarian crisis: Documented refugees left without shelter in Durban.

WITH the June 30 deadline looming, experts warn of a critical xenophobia crisis in Durban, urging immediate action to protect vulnerable migrants and prevent violence.

Dr Imraan Buccus, a senior research associate at the Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute (ASRI) and the University of Johannesburg, warned that the xenophobia crisis in Durban had reached a “critical point,” with growing fears of further violence, widespread looting and even a large-scale riots as June 30 approached.

He said for months, xenophobic groups and organisations had acted with impunity, illegally demanding that people produce identity documents, intimidating and assaulting residents, and instructing migrants to leave South Africa by June 30.

“The significance of the deadline should not be underestimated. Although it has no legal basis, it has acquired considerable symbolic power.