A sharp escalation in anti-immigrant sentiment has gripped major South African cities this week, as vigilante groups and protesters take to the streets in organized demonstrations.
Reports from Pretoria and Johannesburg indicate that hundreds of protesters, led by groups such as “March and March” and the prominent “Operation Dudula,” have mobilized to demand the mass expulsion of both documented and undocumented African migrants.
The surge in activity comes as South Africa approaches local government elections scheduled for later this year, with analysts warning that xenophobic rhetoric is being increasingly weaponized for political gain.
The current wave of unrest has been characterized by aggressive tactics and the presence of vigilante groups. Videos circulating online and reports from civil society organizations describe disturbing incidents, including school invasions where Operation Dudula members reportedly entered classrooms to identify and remove children of foreign nationals.
While the term “stone-age weapons” has been used in social media reports, official accounts and local news describe a more volatile mix of traditional weapons, such as knobkerries and sticks, alongside modern firearms. In several flashpoints, shots have been fired, and execution-style killings have been reported, signaling a dangerous shift from sporadic unrest to targeted violence.
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has issued a formal condemnation, expressing grave concern over the “vigilante conduct” and the failure of state institutions to curb the harassment of migrants. In response to the growing threat, several foreign missions including the High Commissions of Ghana and Nigeria have issued urgent advisories to their nationals.
Residents in migrant-heavy areas have been urged to stay indoors and close their businesses, as organizers have announced a nationwide “shutdown” planned for May 4, 2026, aimed at forcing the government to repatriate all foreign nationals to avoid civil war.
