Is South Africa experiencing its highest peak of anti-migrant mobilization?

Ahead of the country’s municipal elections in November, South Africa is witnessing a wave of demonstrations demanding stronger action against undocumented migration and for them to leave the country by 30 June. Several political parties and public figures have claimed that problems with illegal migration underpin the country’s current severe economic and public safety challenges.

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

“Anti-migrant demonstrations increased sharply from April until mid June 2026. During this period alone, ACLED recorded 61 anti-migrant demonstration events across the country, driven by the March and March movement, a citizen-led organization that mobilizes against irregular migration in South Africa. Although concentrated in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces, South Africa's most populous provinces and long-standing focal points for anti-migrant activism, they have also spread to other provinces like the Western Cape. 

“The latest increase in anti-migration demonstrations follows a long-term pattern of spikes coinciding with periods of heightened political debate over immigration policy, as well as highly publicized campaigns by groups such as Operation Dudula and other anti-immigration movements. Anti-migrant mobilization however has particularly increased since 2022, resulting in a rise in both demonstrations and targeted attacks on foreign nationals — both documented and undocumented. In just the first six months of 2026, recorded events have already surpassed half of the annual figures from 2022 and 2025, which were previous peak years for mobilization.

“Targeted attacks during this period have been particularly deadly. Since 2022, ACLED records at least 148 fatalities in attacks on migrants — committed by either state forces, violent mobs, or unidentified perpetrators.

"Following the latest demonstrations in 2026, several nations — including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe — have coordinated the repatriation of thousands, a move that has strained bilateral ties and heightened economic risks.”