In Durban, protesters dressed in traditional Zulu attire assembled in a public park carrying sticks and shields while chanting "abahambe", meaning "Let them go", under the watch of heavily deployed security personnel.

With increasing attacks on African immigrants, even those living legally in the country are scared ahead of an unofficial deadline for illegal foreigners to leave the country.

Protesters have told all undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa by Tuesday, ahead of anti-immigrant rallies that many fear will turn violent.