South Africa Police Evacuate Migrants Amid Xenophobic Threats

South African police moved around 400 migrants from a church center in Durban due to escalating anti-migrant threats from a local citizen-led group. This group has been campaigning against undocumented migrants, which has heightened xenophobic tensions in the country.

The migrants, including women and children from countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Somalia, were transported to a government refuge center. The operation followed a standoff where local anti-immigrant campaigners cheered and chanted against the migrants.

Reports indicated that some migrants left their homes fearing violence, as local groups went door-to-door urging undocumented foreigners to leave by a June 30 ultimatum, which had no legal standing. Jacinta Ngobes Zuma, a figurehead of the anti-immigrant group, stated that they march against violence and want undocumented foreigners to leave.

This situation reflects a recurring pattern of xenophobic violence in South Africa, with previous spikes in 2008, 2015, and 2021, often linked to economic frustrations and political mobilization.