An unprecedented wave of departures of foreigners has affected South Africa for almost two months. According to data communicated by different countries, compiled by AFP and published this Tuesday, July 21, more than 160,000 people of foreign nationality have left the country since the end of May, following movements opposing undocumented immigrants which led to violent raids.
They come from the four corners of Africa, mainly from the neighboring countries of Mozambique and Zimbabwe, as well as Malawi, but also from Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. During a press conference, the Minister of Justice Mmamoloko Kubayi spoke of “voluntary repatriations”. “People show up indicating that they are in an irregular situation and ask to leave for this reason”he clarified.
Threatened by militias
The country has been shaken for weeks by demonstrations targeting undocumented immigrants, particularly in the townships. According to South African authorities, four foreigners died during the violence, an Ethiopian, a Malawian and two Mozambicans. According to information from Worldthe opponents, gathered in the form of militias, enter homes to drive out their inhabitants, loot businesses run by foreigners and threaten the latter with abuses. Still according to our colleagues, the authorities are regularly accused of showing passivity.
If the government organizes the evacuation of nationals, in conjunction with their countries of origin, the police for their part make significant arrests. Official data shows 900 people arrested for the day of June 30 alone, during which the March and March organization, at the head of the anti-migrant movements, led a vast mobilization in the country’s major cities.
The continent’s largest economy, South Africa is a destination of choice for African workers, whether regular or irregular. The country has suffered regular xenophobic violence since 2008, when more than 60 migrants were killed and thousands more displaced. Foreigners represent 5.1% of the 65 million inhabitants of the “rainbow nation”, or 3 million people.
