Over 200,000 Displaced as Anti-Migrant Violence Flares in Durban

Violence linked to protests against irregular migrants has reignited in the coastal city of Durban, South Africa, marking the latest escalation in a weeks-long wave of unrest that has killed foreign nationals and displaced tens of thousands from the country.

Protest Targets Temporary Shelter

A confrontation erupted during a march organized by an anti-irregular migration group calling itself “March and March”, which drew approximately 100 participants. The demonstration targeted a temporary accommodation centre in Durban housing hundreds of irregular migrants, located outside a government office. The report was published by Africa News.

The irregular migrants — predominantly from the Democratic Republic of Congo — had sought refuge at the centre about 13 weeks earlier, fleeing pressure and threats from local groups demanding their departure.

Injuries Reported Amid Police Intervention

Raphael, a Congolese bishop and one of the foreign community’s leaders, stated that five Congolese citizens, including two children, were injured during the clashes. He accused the protesters of attacking the camp, describing marchers as armed with sticks and attempting to storm the site where foreigners were gathered. Police intervened to separate the parties, deploying sound bombs to disperse the crowd — an action Raphael said resulted in injuries.

According to South African authorities, the demonstrations form part of a broader campaign against irregular migration.

Escalating Tensions and Mass Displacement

Anti-migrant mobilizations have intensified across South Africa over recent weeks. Several anti-migration groups set 30 June as a final deadline for irregular migrants to leave the country.

Following that ultimatum, violence and threats triggered the displacement of more than 200,000 individuals to their countries of origin, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

South African police confirmed the deaths of at least four foreign migrants during the violence. Foreign governments indicated the actual toll may be higher.

Underlying Socioeconomic Pressures

The Durban incidents have brought renewed attention to one of South Africa’s most sensitive issues: the intersection of irregular migration with unemployment, economic strain, and competition for jobs and public services. Community leaders and organizations have warned that rising xenophobic rhetoric and violence risk deepening social tension and accelerating further displacement.

Durban has emerged over the past weeks as a primary flashpoint for such protests, with growing concerns that confrontations could widen and increasingly target migrants and refugees.