South Africa: Anti-immigrant protesters go door-to-door in Johannesburg

South Africa is experiencing a renewed surge in tensions surrounding the issue of migration. In Johannesburg, anti-immigration groups conducted door-to-door operations in the Alexandra township, claiming to be searching for undocumented immigrants.

According to Reuters, protesters forced their way into some homes on Thursday before handing people over to the police. The scene marks a worrying escalation in an already tense movement fueled by social anger, unemployment, and accusations against migrants.

In Alexandra, a Reuters journalist witnessed protesters breaking down doors and entering homes where they believed they would find undocumented immigrants. A woman and a young child from Malawi were among those taken to police vans.

Residents targeted

A Zimbabwean national detained by protesters claimed to be in the country legally. He explained that he held a Zimbabwean Exemption Permit, a document that allows tens of thousands of Zimbabweans to live and work legally in South Africa.

The protests were not limited to Alexandra. In Soweto, anti-immigration demonstrators also marched with sticks and flags, with the stated intention of searching for undocumented immigrants. Rallies were also reported in Durban.

Some posters advertised a march presented as peaceful, followed by a door-to-door campaign. On the ground, the situation quickly took a turn for the worse, to the point that a community leader in Alexandra acknowledged that the march had degenerated into violence.

Ramaphosa warns against excesses

President Cyril Ramaphosa has already warned South African citizens that they cannot take the place of the authorities in enforcing immigration laws. He has also cautioned against the tendency to blame foreigners for deeper economic problems.

The issue remains explosive in a country where unemployment affects a large part of the population. Anti-immigrant groups accuse foreigners of taking jobs, straining public services, and contributing to insecurity. The March and March movement, in particular, demands stricter border controls, mass deportations, and priority access for South Africans in schools and healthcare facilities.

But these demands are causing serious concern. Authorities reiterate that border control operations are not the responsibility of citizens mobilized in the streets. Xenophobic violence has already marked the country's recent history, with repeated attacks against African nationals from Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Thousands of recent departures

The tension is also having regional repercussions. Malawi has reported that more than 38,000 of its citizens have returned from South Africa in recent weeks as part of a repatriation effort linked to security concerns. More than 60,000 people are also believed to have returned to Zimbabwe.

For Pretoria, the challenge is twofold: responding to public pressure regarding illegal immigration without allowing street groups to impose their own justice. The upcoming marches announced by anti-immigrant movements will therefore be closely monitored.