OVER 160,000 MIGRANTS FLEE SOUTH AFRICA AMID RISING XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS
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Agency Report
More than 160,000 foreign nationals have left South Africa in the past two months as growing hostility and violent attacks against undocumented migrants trigger one of the largest waves of voluntary repatriation in recent years.
An AFP tally based on figures released by the governments repatriating their citizens showed that Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho and Uganda are among the countries whose nationals have returned home.
The exodus follows weeks of nationwide anti-immigrant protests, some of which turned violent, leaving at least four migrants dead, according to South African authorities. However, several foreign governments have reported higher casualty figures.
As local groups intensified calls for undocumented migrants to leave the country by June 30, thousands sought refuge at consulates and community centres before returning to their home countries, many carrying only their personal belongings.
Zimbabwe recorded the highest number of returnees, with its government announcing that 108,366 nationals had returned home as of July 18, most through self-repatriation.
Malawi said more than 46,890 of its citizens had returned since early June, with the government deploying 699 buses to transport them. Six people reportedly died during the journey.
South African authorities also confirmed that nearly 2,000 Mozambicans had crossed back into their country, while Nigeria repatriated about 1,490 citizens and Ghana evacuated at least 926 nationals.
The latest wave of violence reportedly began after two Mozambican nationals were killed following protests in Mossel Bay in late May. Authorities later confirmed the deaths of an Ethiopian and a Malawian during incidents linked to anti-foreigner sentiment.
Nigeria has alleged that two of its citizens were killed in the attacks, while Ghana reported that one of its nationals died during anti-immigrant demonstrations in Cape Town.
South African authorities have, however, rejected the claims by Nigeria and Ghana, warning against the spread of misinformation regarding the incidents.
The governments of Nigeria and Ghana have called for the issue of “Afrophobia” to be placed on the agenda of the next African Union summit. Ghana has also postponed a planned state visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy, has for decades attracted documented and undocumented migrants seeking better economic opportunities.
However, anti-immigrant groups accuse foreign nationals of taking jobs and contributing to crime, claims analysts say have made migrants scapegoats for the country’s broader economic and governance challenges, including unemployment above 30 per cent, poverty and poor service delivery.
The current unrest began with demonstrations last year over undocumented migrants’ access to public healthcare but escalated ahead of the June 30 ultimatum issued by anti-immigration groups.
The March and March movement has since vowed to continue weekly demonstrations until South Africa’s local government elections in November.
Although South Africa has witnessed repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2019, this marks the first time multiple African governments have coordinated large-scale voluntary repatriation efforts for thousands of their citizens in response to sustained anti-migrant hostility.
AFP
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