Thousands of demonstrators marched across major South African cities on Tuesday, demanding the removal of undocumented migrants as police and private security forces maintained a heavy presence to prevent violence. While authorities described the protests as largely peaceful, isolated incidents of looting, intimidation, and assaults led to several arrests in Johannesburg, Soweto, and KwaZulu-Natal. President Cyril Ramaphosa met protest leaders ahead of the demonstrations, urging them to respect the law. While he acknowledged the need for immigration reform, he reminded citizens that legally documented foreign nationals contribute to South Africa’s economy and deserve constitutional protection. More than three million documented foreign nationals live in South Africa, though undocumented numbers remain unrecorded—a key grievance for protesters. The demonstrations come amid unemployment exceeding 30%.
BBC