25,000 Foreigners Flee South Africa as Anti-Immigrant Deadline Passes Peacefully

More than 25,000 foreign nationals have fled South Africa after citizen-led groups set an unofficial June 30 deadline for all undocumented immigrants to leave the country [185674]. In the weeks leading up to the deadline, thousands of Malawians, Zimbabweans, and other migrants rushed to obtain travel documents and seek repatriation, with many waiting in makeshift camps across the country [185683][185680][183482]. South African authorities accelerated deportations, processing over 15,000 Malawian nationals alone before the deadline to prevent potential clashes [183551].

On Tuesday, anti-immigrant protesters marched through major cities including Johannesburg and Durban, demanding that undocumented foreigners leave [185659][185666]. The demonstrations, organized by groups such as "Operation Dudula," targeted migrants from other African nations [183482]. Despite widespread fears of violence, the day passed mostly peacefully, with no major clashes reported [186335]. However, tensions remain high in several neighborhoods, and police have deployed officers across the country to monitor hotspots and maintain order [185674][186335].

The unofficial deadline has sparked fear among migrant communities, who reported a sharp rise in attacks and threats in recent weeks, including looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses [181477]. The Ghanaian government issued a formal travel warning, urging its citizens to postpone non-essential travel to South Africa due to safety concerns [185632]. Authorities remain on alert as the situation develops [186335].