{"id":2092,"date":"2026-07-01T20:59:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T20:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cnnglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/01\/police-units-deployed-across-south-africa-before-anti-immigration-marches\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T20:59:02","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T20:59:02","slug":"police-units-deployed-across-south-africa-before-anti-immigration-marches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=2092","title":{"rendered":"Police units deployed across South Africa before anti-immigration marches"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"a09e3984-ec59-4c5a-b6d4-aa518fb0c8de\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div data-chromatic=\"ignore\">\n<div data-component=\"youtube-atom\" data-atom-id=\"e82b03f3-0dd7-42c8-bc11-afd9abfd5095\" data-video-id=\"78JjOfiD4GU\" data-video-unique-id=\"78JjOfiD4GU-0\">\n<div data-testid=\"youtube-sticky-78JjOfiD4GU-0\" data-is-sticky=\"false\" class=\"dcr-0\">\n<div class=\"dcr-0\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1orj1f6\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"0\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-jjzgje\"><button data-testid=\"youtube-overlay-78JjOfiD4GU-0\" aria-label=\"Play video: Anti-immigration marches take place across South Africa \u2013 video\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-16xaxky\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crowd of people waving South Africa flags\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/855e18b50967322340ad0dd4ab7669041939ca98\/0_234_4500_2531\/4500.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" height=\"259\" width=\"460\" class=\"dcr-18dqxt1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-bdvwsb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aekkwd\"><span class=\"dcr-1f90r0x\">1:12<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"play-icon dcr-11ol26a\"><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1i2qrrj\"><span class=\"dcr-1topda0\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Anti-immigration marches take place across South Africa \u2013 video<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Police units deployed across South Africa before anti-immigration marches<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Government fears repeat of anti-migrant violence in 2008 that led to looting and resulted in deaths of 62 people<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">South African authorities have deployed police units to towns and cities around the country before planned <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jun\/08\/extreme-fear-among-immigrants-as-backlash-sweeps-south-africa\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">demonstrations against undocumented foreign nationals<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Security personnel were seen patrolling the central business district in Johannesburg, the economic capital, where many shopkeepers decided not to open on Tuesday. Trucks and other assets belonging to the South African National Defence Force were also present, according to local media reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The protests have been organised by anti-migration vigilante groups, including March and March, who set an unofficial 30 June deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Organisers insist they are focused on undocumented migrants and will demonstrate peacefully, but foreigners with documentation have also complained of targeted harassment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe are not calling for violence \u2026 No one will be killed on 30 June and no looting will take place in our name,\u201d said Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of March and March.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"baf54b69-7671-46b3-a4cc-912c062ed136\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.ImageBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Man wearing South Africa flag sunglasses and a March and March T-shirt shouting in a crowd\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/690fa54b50d777f50b7ca1572b70f0bb3d912bc5\/116_0_4164_3333\/master\/4164.jpg?width=445&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"445\" height=\"356.19236311239194\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"baf54b69-7671-46b3-a4cc-912c062ed136\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-vyhg7z\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">The March and March group announced an unofficial deadline of 30 June by which they wanted undocumented foreign nationals to leave.<\/span> Photograph: Phill Magakoe\/AFP\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The police deployment is seen as an attempt to prevent mass-scale looting and mob violence, similar to the 2008 anti-migrant riots that left <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2008\/may\/24\/southafrica.zimbabwe\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">62 people dead<\/a>. In July 2021, more than 350 people were killed in the country\u2019s deadliest unrest since the end of apartheid, after the former president Jacob Zuma was jailed for contempt of court.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">For weeks this May and June, men carrying sticks and chanting \u201c<em>abahambe<\/em>\u201d (an isiZulu and isiXhosa word meaning \u201cthey must leave\u201d) have been seen going from shops to shops, interrogating and in certain cases beating up migrants across Johannesburg and Durban. So far, five Mozambican nationals have been killed, according to a statement from South Africa\u2019s north-eastern neighbour.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Foreign-born migrants make up an estimated 4% of South Africa\u2019s 62 million people, despite claims that they number as many as 15-20 million. Many migrants work in the informal sector, as economic strain in neighbouring countries has caused thousands to seek work in one of Africa\u2019s largest economies.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"624cc061-818c-4b95-9969-11535a2a9cce\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-1oq85qr\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-8 | 8\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1rx5ky9\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-15vltj4\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/global-development\/2026\/jun\/10\/south-africa-townships-poverty-gun-crime-gangs-extortion-healthcare-hospitals\" class=\"dcr-f35c0u\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-vvxpdt\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6z6e7\">\n<div class=\"dcr-zh9rih\">\u2018The patients scattered\u2019: how gun crime cuts off healthcare for South Africa\u2019s poorest<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-oj13vq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-ef9nua\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Crime statistics show that only a small fraction of crimes are committed by foreigners, undermining a popular narrative by protest organisers. But in a country with one of the world\u2019s highest unemployment rates and where wealth is concentrated in the hands of the country\u2019s white minority, African migrants are sometimes treated as a scapegoat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Authorities have been accused of responding meekly as the violence has gone largely unchecked. \u201cThere is no place for racism, sexism, tribalism, xenophobia, Afrophobia or any other form of intolerance,\u201d the South African president, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/cyril-ramaphosa\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Cyril Ramaphosa<\/a>, said in a recent forum with traditional monarchs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Several governments including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda have repatriated hundreds of their citizens before the deadline, with some still stranded in South Africa. On social media, footage has emerged of dozens of Malawians camped in the cold outside their consulate in Johannesburg, waiting for processing and transport out of the country before the expiration of the deadline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/southafrica\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">South Africa<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/africa\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Africa<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/cyril-ramaphosa\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Cyril Ramaphosa<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/zuma\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Jacob Zuma<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/world\/migration\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Migration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Police%20units%20deployed%20across%20South%20Africa%20before%20anti-immigration%20marches&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2026\/jun\/30\/south-africa-police-anti-immigrant-protests?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fworld%2F2026%2Fjun%2F30%2Fsouth-africa-police-anti-immigrant-protests&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=world\/2026\/jun\/30\/south-africa-police-anti-immigrant-protests\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-axwinp\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1:12 Anti-immigration marches take place across South Africa \u2013 video Police units deployed across South Africa before anti-immigration marches Government fears repeat of anti-migrant violence in 2008 that led to &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/?p=2092\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2092\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cnnglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}