How did South Africa's 30 June 2026 anti-illegal migration demonstrations unfold?

The March and March movement and allied organizations called for all undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa by 30 June. This deadline triggered a wave of nationwide anti-illegal migrant campaigns, forcing thousands of migrants to flee or seek repatriation. 

Dr. Ladd Serwat, Senior Africa Analyst, and Susanna Deetlefs, Regional Desk Coordinator for Africa and North America at ACLED, said: 

“The scale of anti-migrant activity on 30 June exceeded prior trends. Nearly 100 demonstrations against illegal migration occurred that day, bringing the total to at least 150 demonstrations during June — more than the total recorded anti-illegal migrant-related demonstrations over the previous 12 months combined.

“The 30 June protests drew thousands, with some gatherings reportedly exceeding 15,000 people, including traditional Zulu regiments (Amabutho) and uMkhonto weSizwe party members, indicating that migration has become a major driver of large-scale protest. 

“Amabutho participation during this and past demonstrations in May and June introduces a new dynamic. Operating under traditional leadership, these formations can mobilize large numbers and maintain internal discipline. The fact that they carried traditional weapons, despite the police warning against carrying weapons during the protests, heightened tensions and required enhanced security.

“The security response on 30 June was proactive and prevented escalation, but maintaining this level of deployment — including police, intelligence coordination, and aerial support — may prove costly and difficult over the next six months. Approximately 25% of demonstrations in June involved violence, similar to May, and usually involved looting or vandalism targeting businesses believed to be owned by foreign nationals. However, the principal shift was not in the levels of violence carried out during demonstrations, but in their unprecedented scale and geographic spread.

“Although the demonstrations remained concentrated in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the geographic reach expanded considerably. In April and May, demonstrations were recorded in fewer than 35 locations. In June, demonstrations spread across at least 130 locations, extending into Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, and the Northern Cape. This suggests that the nationwide diffusion was greater than earlier trends indicated.”