JOHANNESBURG – Dozens of protesters marched through a Johannesburg township on Monday calling for tougher action against illegal immigration, one day after President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that authorities would not tolerate vigilante groups taking the law into their own hands.

The peaceful march took place in Kwa-Thema, a township about 40km southeast of Johannesburg, where participants chanted and sang whilst some carried sticks, according to footage broadcast by the SABC.

The demonstration comes amid escalating tensions over illegal immigration, with vigilante groups ordering undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa by 30 June. The country has experienced recurring waves of anti-migrant violence, with protests intensifying this year.

In a national address late on Sunday, Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration but issued a stern warning against those inciting lawlessness.

“We will and must not allow groups to use the legitimate concerns of South Africans to destabilise our country through inciting lawlessness and violence,” the president said. “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.”

Protest organisers responded by saying they were encouraged that Ramaphosa had placed the issue on the national agenda, but vowed to continue their campaign.

South Africa, one of Africa’s leading economies, is home to more than 3 million foreigners, representing just over 5% of the population. However, with unemployment running at more than 30%, tensions with migrant workers have intensified.

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The country has a history of deadly xenophobic violence. In 2008, 62 people were killed in the worst violence against immigrants in two decades. Violent clashes also erupted in 2015, 2016 and 2019.

At least two Mozambican citizens have been killed in the latest wave of unrest. Last month, hundreds of foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia sought protection in the eastern port city of Durban after locals went door-to-door ordering them to leave by month-end.

The unrest has prompted several countries to organise repatriation efforts. Ghana has arranged flights for hundreds of nationals, whilst Malawi and Mozambique organised buses to bring people home.

South Africa’s border authority said on Monday that more than 600 Ghanaians were processed for departure over the weekend, bringing the total number who have left to 995. The first group of Nigerians is due to leave on Wednesday.

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

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