Breaking News: Police Deploy Across South Africa Amid Anti-Immigration Protests
Police officers are on high alert across South Africa due to concerns that upcoming anti-immigration protests may become violent. President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged participants to protest peacefully, without intimidation or threats.
The protests coincide with an unofficial deadline set by campaigners for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Many individuals have already fled to avoid violence, with South African police reporting that 25,000 people have been repatriated, primarily from other African nations.
In Johannesburg, where one protest is planned, the atmosphere is unusually quiet. Shops near the protest site are closed, and police presence is heightened on major streets. Authorities have arrested five people in Soweto for allegedly looting a foreign-owned shop, and another five in Hammarsdale for breaking into a tuck shop.
Many businesses in Durban are also shut ahead of the protests. President Ramaphosa has emphasized the need for peaceful demonstrations and recognized that some foreign nationals live in South Africa lawfully, contributing to society. Over three million documented foreign nationals reside in the country, according to official figures.
