The nationwide anti-migrant protests held on 30 June 2026 were organised by a coalition of more than 20 organisations, including the March and March Movement. The coalition submitted memoranda to government officials across several provinces outlining their demands, which included stricter enforcement of immigration laws, tighter border controls, increased funding for the Border Management Authority (BMA) and the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), as well as measures to reserve township economic opportunities for South African citizens.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) reported that 120 protests took place across several provinces including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Western Cape. Of these, 108 protests remained peaceful, while 12 required police intervention after violence broke out in several communities. The unrest resulted in looting, attacks on foreign-owned businesses, clashes with law enforcement, and the displacement of thousands of migrants who fled their homes in anticipation of, or in response to, the protests. More than 900 people were arrested during and immediately after the protests for offences, including public violence, looting, robbery, immigration-related violations and harbouring of undocumented migrants
The unrest resulted in at least one confirmed fatality. A man was shot dead during the looting of foreign-owned informal corner shops.
March and March leader Jocinta Ngobese-Zuma stated that protests would continue every Thursday until the government implements stricter border controls and intensify efforts to remove undocumented migrants from the country.
In response to the violence and heightened tensions, many foreign nationals fled their communities to seek safety. Approximately 25,000 migrants from other African countries were reportedly repatriated.
The South African government condemned the violence and reiterated that immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the state and not private individuals or anti-migrant groups. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged public concerns regarding undocumented migrants but warned against vigilantism, xenophobia and attacks on foreign nationals. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International South Africa criticised the protests for scapegoating migrants. They argued that the underlying challenges are rooted in the legacy of apartheid, persistent inequality, and shortcomings in the country’s asylum system.