[BB] South Africa experienced a surge of anti-migrant violence this summer as vigilante groups set a deadline of June 30 for illegal immigrants to leave the country or face unpleasant consequences. Several people were killed in riots leading up to the deadline date.
The anti-migrant demonstrators, many of whom rallied under the banner of “Dudula” – a Zulu word that means “to force out” – accused the South African government of failing to secure the borders or enforce immigration law, resulting in a tidal wave of economic migrants from neighboring countries into relatively prosperous South Africa.
In addition to taking jobs from South Africans and straining the country’s public welfare systems, the demonstrators claimed the migrants brought rampant crime, from drug abuse to racketeering. They also accused corrupt South African officials of working with migrant criminal gangs.
Roughly 160,000 migrants reportedly fled South Africa in May and June, and some other governments made efforts to assist their citizens with evacuating, including Ghana. Migrants held some counter-protests of their own, leading to clashes with police. |