South Africa urges rule of law as anti-immigration marches hit Johannesburg
Synopsis
Anti-immigration marches swept Johannesburg and Pretoria as vigilante groups demanded documentation from foreign nationals, with reports of harassment emerging from KwaZulu-Natal. The South African government is pushing back — urging citizens to use legal channels while rolling out an Electronic Travel Authorisation system — but the response echoes a cycle of xenophobic tension the country has struggled to break for over two decades.
Key Takeaways
The South African government urged citizens on 30 April 2025 to uphold the Constitution amid anti-immigration marches in Johannesburg and Pretoria .
Anti-immigration group March and March staged protests on consecutive days in Pretoria and Johannesburg .
Reports of harassment and attacks against foreign nationals emerged from KwaZulu-Natal and other areas.
Acting spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa urged the public to report concerns to the South African Police Service rather than take the law into their own hands.
The government is rolling out the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system and tightening border controls to manage immigration through lawful channels.
The South African government on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, called on citizens to uphold the Constitution as anti-immigration protests targeting foreign nationals escalated across major cities, including Johannesburg and Pretoria. Acting government spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa issued the appeal following marches by political parties and vigilante groups demanding that foreign nationals produce valid documentation.
What Sparked the Protests
The anti-immigration group March and March held a demonstration in Pretoria on Tuesday, 29 April, followed by another in Johannesburg on Wednesday. Several political parties and vigilante organisations participated in the marches. Local and international media, including Xinhua, also reported recent incidents of harassment and attacks against foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal.
What the Government Said
Mnukwa stated that the government remains committed to sovereignty, security, and the rule of law. She urged members of the public to work with law enforcement rather than act independently.
Point of View
Political opportunism, and a government that responds with statements rather than structural solutions. The ETA system and border tightening are administrative fixes for what is fundamentally a political and economic problem — persistently high unemployment that successive governments have failed to address. Blaming foreign nationals is easier than fixing labour markets, and vigilante groups know it. Until Pretoria pairs its rule-of-law messaging with credible job-creation outcomes, these protests will keep returning.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is South Africa experiencing anti-immigration protests?
Several political parties and vigilante groups staged marches demanding that foreign nationals produce valid documentation, amid broader public frustration over unemployment and crime. The anti-immigration group March and March held protests in Pretoria and Johannesburg on consecutive days in late April 2025.
What is South Africa's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system?
The ETA is a newly introduced system designed to help South Africa manage the movement of people into the country in a secure, transparent, and efficient manner. It is part of a broader set of measures the government is implementing to address illegal immigration through lawful channels.
What has the South African government said about the protests?
Acting spokesperson Nomonde Mnukwa urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands and to report immigration concerns to the South African Police Service or relevant immigration authorities. The government stated it is committed to sovereignty, security, and the rule of law.
Have there been attacks on foreign nationals during these protests?
Local and international media, including Xinhua, reported incidents of harassment and attacks against foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, including KwaZulu-Natal, around the time of the protests.
Is this the first time South Africa has faced anti-immigration tensions?
No. South Africa has experienced recurring episodes of xenophobic tension and violence, with notable incidents in 2008, 2015, and 2019. The country's persistently high unemployment rate has repeatedly fuelled resentment toward foreign nationals.
