Tens of thousands of protesters marched in anti-migration demonstrations June 30 across South Africa, following an informal deadline set by anti-immigration groups for employers to terminate the employment of undocumented foreign nationals by that date, RFI reported July 1. While the demonstrations were largely peaceful, some homes and businesses believed to house undocumented migrants were targeted, resulting in one reported death. Isolated unrest in cities, including Durban and Johannesburg, meanwhile, led to more than 900 arrests for offenses including public violence, looting and immigration-related violations.

In recent months, South Africa has seen a surge in anti-migrant protests and xenophobic violence in major cities, including Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria, where thousands of demonstrators have demanded the removal of undocumented migrants, sometimes enforcing informal deadlines and carrying out forced evictions, looting of foreign-owned shops, intimidation and occasional clashes with police and private security. More than 25,000 migrants have been repatriated or deported, often in coordination with the governments of migrants' countries of origin.