Anti-immigrant groups in South Africa have issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented nationals to leave the country. These groups threaten nationwide shutdowns and widespread demonstrations if government action fails. Recent unrest in provinces like Kwa Zulu-Natal has already resulted in fatalities, prompting the South African Police Services to launch a $36 million operation to curb lawlessness.

Rising tensions follow government vows to tighten border security and enforce the Immigration Act. This crackdown comes as deportation figures surged, with officials reporting 109,344 deportations as of March 2026. Many victims of the current violence are refugees from conflict zones like the Democratic Republic of Congo who have lived in the country for decades.

Economic frustrations drive much of this hostility. While anti-immigrant activists blame foreigners for job shortages and strained social services, census data shows migrants represent only 4.1 percent of the population. The government now faces the difficult task of managing border security while preventing a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic violence that killed dozens.