Thousands of migrants have begun leaving South Africa ahead of nationwide anti-immigrant protests scheduled for June 30, amid growing fears that the demonstrations could turn violent.
In Durban, thousands of Malawian migrants queued at a temporary processing centre in the hope of returning home, while hundreds of Zimbabweans spent the night outside their consulate in Cape Town seeking assistance to leave the country.
Many migrants cited concerns for their safety following a recent wave of xenophobic protests and attacks targeting foreign nationals.
“We are scared because you never know what people are planning to do to you. It’s not right to wait and see what will happen,” said Ebrahim Moosa, who was waiting with his wife to board a bus to Malawi.
South Africa has witnessed a rise in anti-immigrant demonstrations in recent weeks, forcing many foreign nationals to flee or abandon their homes.
Anti-immigration groups have set June 30 as a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country, prompting authorities to brace for possible unrest. The government has urged citizens not to take immigration enforcement into their own hands.