Anti-immigrant protests in South Africa: Foreigners' homes stormed and calls for their deportation.
Written by: Mohamed Ragab
South Africa has witnessed a new escalation in anti-immigrant protests, after protesters stormed homes suspected of housing undocumented immigrants in the Alexandra area of Johannesburg, expelling a number of residents before handing some over to the police, a scene that has raised growing concerns about the rise of violence related to immigration.
These developments come amid ongoing popular campaigns demanding stricter measures to combat irregular immigration.
Raiding homes and handing over migrants to the police
Footage from the protests showed demonstrators moving from house to house in search of foreigners suspected of not having legal residency documents, while reports indicated that the police handed over a number of people for verification of their legal status.
The reported cases included a woman and a child from Malawi, in addition to a Zimbabwean citizen who confirmed he holds a legal residency permit, raising questions about the targeting of some regular residents during these campaigns.
Protesters are demanding stricter immigration laws.
Protest organizers say they are demanding the government take stricter measures to curb irregular migration, considering that the presence of unregistered migrants increases pressure on job opportunities and public services and raises crime rates.
In contrast, human rights organizations and immigration experts assert that there is insufficient evidence to prove that immigrants are responsible for the economic or security problems facing the country, warning that blaming them for these crises could lead to an escalation of violence and discrimination.
The government warns against vigilantism.
President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously warned against citizens resorting to vigilantism, emphasizing that immigration issues must be handled through the competent security and judicial institutions, not through popular groups or campaigns.
Authorities also enhanced the deployment of police and security forces in a number of areas that witnessed protests, to prevent further violence and protect residents and property.
Fears of the crisis widening
Observers believe that the continuation of protests could lead to increased social tensions in South Africa, especially with the growing number of migrants who have left the country or returned to their home countries for fear of assaults.
Human rights organizations are calling on the government to provide protection for all residents, ensure fair law enforcement, and address the economic and social causes fueling waves of public anger, in order to maintain security and stability and prevent the escalation of hate crimes against foreigners.
