Xenophobic protests in Durban over the past week have left refugees camping outside the Home Affairs office as groups set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa.
Over the past week, mobs associated with March and March and other demonstrators have targeted foreign nationals in Durban, with incidents including assaults, workplace invasions and social media mobilisation. Refugees, many of whom hold legal papers, sought safety at the Durban Central Police station and the Diakonia Centre before camping on the pavement outside the Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road. Officials verified 457 foreign nationals at the centre, finding only two without proper documentation.
The eThekwini mayor, Cyril Xaba, arranged transport for verification after meeting with demonstrators. Political figures including members of the MK party and ActionSA have joined or supported the protests in Durban and Johannesburg. Former president Thabo Mbeki warned against blaming foreign nationals for unemployment and crime, stating that similar measures elsewhere in Africa had failed to solve economic problems.
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster ministers will hold an urgent meeting on Monday at the Union Buildings in Tshwane. The meeting aims to finalise a national action plan on xenophobia and to discuss rules of engagement with groups involved in the protests.
