Demonstrators in South Africa take to the streets against immigration after Ramaphosa cautions against taking the law into their own hands

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South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa

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Dozens of anti-illegal immigration protesters marched through a township outside Johannesburg on Monday, a day after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged action against groups accused of fuelling xenophobic violence.

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South Africa has seen recurring bouts of anti-migrant violence, with protests intensifying this year as vigilante groups ordered undocumented foreigners to leave by June 30.

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Chanting and singing as they moved through Kwa-Thema, a township about 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Johannesburg, protesters called for tougher government action against illegal immigration.

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The march was peaceful, with some participants carrying sticks, footage aired by the SABC public broadcaster showed.

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Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but warned that the authorities would not tolerate anyone taking the law into their own hands.

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“We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence,” he said in a national address late Sunday.

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“We will act against forces who are exploiting the concerns of our people about illegal immigration to further their own political, personal or criminal agendas.”

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Organisers of the protests responded swiftly, saying they were encouraged that Ramaphosa had put the issue on the national agenda, but vowed to press ahead with their campaign.

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Among Africa’s leading economies, South Africa is home to more than three million foreigners, just over five percent of the population.

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But unemployment is running at more than 30 percent, fuelling tensions with migrant workers.

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In the worst violence against immigrants in the last two decades, 62 people were killed in 2008.

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Violent clashes also erupted in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

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At least two Mozambican citizens have been killed in the latest wave of unrest.

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Last month, hundreds of foreign nationals, including citizens from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia, sought protection in the eastern port city of Durban, saying locals had gone door-to-door ordering them to leave by the end of the month.

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The unrest has prompted several countries to organise the return of their citizens.

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Ghana has arranged repatriation flights for hundreds of nationals, while Malawi and Mozambique organised buses to bring people home.

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More than 600 Ghanaians were processed for departure over the weekend, South Africa’s border authority said on Monday, taking the tally of those who have left to 995.

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The first group of Nigerians is due to leave on Wednesday.

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Kenya, Lesotho and Zimbabwe are among the countries that have urged their citizens in South Africa to exercise caution.

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