Grandfather Sello, one of the local organizers of the protests against immigrants in the greater Benoni region. He addressed supporters in Actonville. (Photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp)
While xenophobic tensions are rising and thousands of foreigners have already left the country for fear of violence, analysts warn that the situation could deteriorate further on 30 June.
This follows amid threats by anti-immigration groups to bring the country to a standstill if illegal immigrants are not out of South Africa by this deadline.
Several countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Nigeria, have already begun to repatriate their citizens from South Africa as fears of increasing violence against foreigners increase.
“South Africa can legislate nicely and talk big, but when it comes to implementation, the state is simply weak,” says Willem Els, senior training coordinator at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS).
According to Els, the possibility of further marches by pressure groups such as March to March is great. He believes that economic desperation plays a much bigger role than political incitement.
“When people struggle with unemployment and poverty every day, it doesn’t take much incitement. If foreigners are then seen as competitors for scarce job opportunities, it becomes a bread and butter issue,” he says.
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Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that the government will take stricter action against employers who employ undocumented foreigners. The measures include increased fines and even possible prison terms for violators of the Immigration Act.
Ramaphosa addressed the country amid rising tensions over illegal immigration, recent protests against foreigners and threats of a national shutdown on 30 June.
However, Els says the threatened marches are also related to the upcoming local elections, with some political parties using the unrest to gain support.
“Dog eat dog. This is now the parties’ way of doing things and people and voters remain in the fight,” he says.
Although Els believes that the country’s security forces may be better prepared than during the devastating July 2021 riots, he warns that the state still remains vulnerable.
“The government doesn’t know what they don’t know,” he says.
Els says this with reference to intelligence services and the country’s readiness for any possible future violent riot.
According to Els, there is still a perception among many migrants that South Africa is a land of opportunities. However, the reality is that this is the country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, while confidence in law enforcement and public safety remains low.
He warns that the conditions for rioting already exist.
“The ingredients for riots have been thrown together. The cake is ready to bake and it gives momentum to groups like March to March. This is about emotion. People are looking for work, people struggle to survive and communities in informal settlements are under tremendous pressure. This is enough to incite riots and further incitement,” he says.
A protester in camouflage takes part in an anti-immigrant demonstration. (Photo: Rodger Bosch/AFP)
March to March has warned that the country will be brought to a standstill on June 30 if all illegal immigrants do not leave South Africa by this deadline.
Several political leaders meanwhile warned that the tension could easily turn into violence.
Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi and member of the Government of National Unity (GNE), also warns that the country is sitting on a powder keg.
According to Zibi, the persistent xenophobic sentiment and the planned march could escalate.
“People are going to die on June 30,” he warned.