Mass Anti-Immigrant Protests Push 160,000+ Undocumented People Out of South Africa — Tensions Rising Over Jobs, Services and Border Control

JOHANNESBURG — More than 160,000 people believed to be living in South Africa without proper documentation have left the country following widespread protests in which many citizens demanded that foreign nationals depart. The unrest reflects mounting public anger over perceived weak border controls, strained public services and what critics call official inaction.

Who Is Leaving—and Why

An activist group, the March and March movement, has claimed the number of undocumented migrants in South Africa could be as high as 15–30 million—far above the official estimates. Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) places the number of foreign-born residents at up to about 3 million, a figure that critics dispute.

Undocumented migrants line up near a bus at the Durban Drive In in Durban, on June 29, 2026, preparing to leave before the camp will shut down and the operation will be transferred to the border with Zimbabwe. South Africans President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on June 25 to crush any attempts to destabilize the nation during planned anti-immigrant marches next week, amid a wave of xenophobia.

Protesters and civic groups say undocumented migrants are responsible for rising crime, scarce jobs and overcrowded hospitals and schools. In some townships, including parts of Soweto near Johannesburg, activists have reportedly gone door-to-door issuing deadlines for migrants to leave. Reuters reported roughly 900 arrests during one day of nationwide demonstrations; authorities also recorded one death in the Johannesburg area during the recent unrest.

Official Response and Repatriations

Some migrants left by bus or on repatriation flights organized by their home countries. South African border officials reported that in June, 321 of 332 Ghanaians who attempted to depart from OR Tambo International Airport were found to be in the country illegally. By July 11, the government said 53,449 foreign nationals had been processed for deportation or repatriation.

Protesters start a fire in the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 30, 2026.

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, founder of the March and March movement, told Fox News Digital: "We've had enough." She estimates undocumented migrants number "between 15 and 30 million," a claim she describes as debatable but reflective of widespread concern.

Data Challenges and Government Capacity

Disputes over numbers are intensified by practical challenges in counting and verification. Stats SA’s head, Risenga Maluleke, acknowledged that census and fieldworkers sometimes rely on respondents’ statements about place of birth because they lack reliable means to verify every individual on the spot.

Economic pressures are central to the protests. Stats SA reported an official national unemployment rate of 32.7%. President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged that some employers hire undocumented workers at below-minimum wages and with inadequate protections, a practice that activists say undermines job opportunities for citizens.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma leads a demonstration in Mtwalume, south of Durban, on July 9, 2026.

Public Services and Safety Concerns

Protesters point to reports of long waits at municipal hospitals. At one Johannesburg facility that offers largely free care to citizens, emergency patients were reportedly waiting as long as 36 hours; at least one person is said to have died while waiting for treatment at Helen Joseph Hospital.

Border controls are criticized as inconsistent, with frequent reports of bribery at official posts and accounts of migrants crossing informal river routes. Public pressure—intensified by upcoming local elections—has pushed the government to pledge stronger enforcement and to promise action against destabilizing marches.

Anti-immigrant marchers walk through the streets of Johannesburg on the day of an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for all undocumented migrants to leave, in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 30, 2026.

Political Fallout and Voices From Across the Spectrum

Opposition figures such as Herman Mashaba, leader of Action SA, have called for far tougher measures, including mass deportations and significant investment in enforcement capacity. Analysts note similarities between South Africa’s current political dynamics and anti-immigrant sentiment visible in parts of Europe and other Western countries.

Frans Cronje, president of the Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, cited polls showing immigration as the second-most pressing issue after unemployment for many South Africans. Historically, anti-immigrant violence has flared before—62 people died in riots in 2008, and at least five were killed in unrest in 2015.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the State of the Nation address in Cape Town, South Africa, on Feb. 12, 2026.

Fox News Digital contacted the South African government for comment but received no response.

What This Means Going Forward

The protests highlight the intersection of migration, economic hardship and governance. Resolving these tensions will likely require a combination of improved border management, more reliable data on migration flows, enforcement against corrupt practices, and targeted social and labor policies to reduce the incentives and pressures that fuel public anger.