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16h ago

South Africa Seeks Continentwide Migration Talks After Anti‑Immigrant Unrest

Officials say a pan‑African conversation could recast migration as a regional problem driven by economic and security pressures and help ease diplomatic tensions

FILE -A protester dressed traditional attire marches against illegal immigration, in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
People awaiting repatriation gather around to board a bus headed to Zimbabwe at a repatriation centre in Musina near the Beitbridge border crossing with Zimbabwe on July 9, 2026. Several thousands more foreign nationals clamoured to leave South Africa on July 3, many of them gathered near the Zimbabwe border after a push that has already seen around 35,000 go home. The exodus began weeks ago as fringe groups began demanding all illegal migrants leave by June 30, in a campaign that saw violent protests and clashes. Thousands of foreigners awaited the journey home inside sprawling white tarpaulin tents serving as a temporary repatriation centre after fleeing deadly anti-immigrant protests in South Africa. More than 21,000 people had been housed and processed at the facility, according to its manager, Limpopo provincial Home Affairs chief Albert Matsaung. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • In early August, government ministers led by International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola pressed for Africa‑wide talks to address the causes of irregular migration and to avoid South Africa being singled out by continental bodies.
  • South African authorities say roughly 68,000 people were repatriated between June and July as protests and vigilante actions forced many migrants to leave and in some cases prompted deportations for lacking documents.
  • Border operations have been strained: the Border Management Agency cut the temporary Musina processing centre’s capacity from 20,000 to 1,500 people, creating bottlenecks for returns and humanitarian aid.
  • Diplomatic friction has grown with neighbours that have organized returns, and the African Union declined Ghana’s request to place South Africa’s tensions on its next coordination meeting agenda.
  • Leaders from Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are expected to raise the issue at the upcoming SADC summit in Durban, and business and aid groups warn the exodus could worsen labour shortages, trade links and humanitarian conditions.