THOUSANDS of people have marched in South Africa’s main cities to demand that all undocumented migrants leave the country.
Police officers – backed by private security guards – have been deployed because of fears that protests could turn violent. Anti-migrant groups had set Tuesday as the deadline for undocumented migrants to leave.
Many foreigners have already fled to escape violence and intimidation. South African police say 25,000 have been repatriated so far. Most are from other African countries.
One undocumented Malawian told the BBC he was “happy to be going back” but “heartbroken” to be leaving behind four young children.
The leader of anti-migrant group March and March, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, said they would protest every Thursday for the next six months to force the government to “get rid of” undocumented migrants who were still in South Africa.
A demonstrator – who is part of another anti-migrant group, Operation Dudula – told the BBC they would “push the police” to arrest foreigners who are not legally in the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa met some of the protest leaders on the eve of Tuesday’s marches to defuse tensions.
He has repeatedly warned demonstrators to act peacefully, while also accepting the need for immigration reforms.
“Some foreign nationals who live in South Africa are here lawfully,” he reminded citizens in his weekly newsletter.
“They work, study, raise families, invest in our economy and contribute positively to our society. They too are entitled to the protection of our laws and our Constitution.
“The right to protest and freedom of expression does not allow people to threaten or intimidate others, or to engage in acts of vandalism or violence,” he wrote.
There are more than three million documented foreign nationals in South Africa, according to official figures.
The statistics do not record the many more migrants believed to be in the country without papers – a bone of contention for the protesters.
Police said that about 50,000 migrants had been arrested since January for being in the country illegally.
Many African migrants moved to South Africa around the time white-minority rule ended in 1994, hoping for a better life.
But with South Africa facing an unemployment rate of more than 30%, anti-migrant sentiments have risen.
Nigeria flew out 269 of its citizens on the eve of the protests, bringing to around 600 the number evacuated so far to the West African nation. More evacuations are expected to take place in the coming days.
Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe have also been repatriating their citizens by plane or bus.
Ahead of the deadline, thousands of migrants have been awaiting processing in temporary camps for several weeks out of fear for their safety.