Over 900 Arrested as South Africa’s Anti-Migrant Protests Turn Violent in Some Areas

South African police said more than 900 people were arrested on Tuesday during nationwide anti-migrant protests that were largely peaceful but, in some areas, turned violent and involved looting.

Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili told a press conference that 120 marches took place across the country, with 108 remaining peaceful while 12 required police intervention due to unrest.

Among those arrested were undocumented migrants detained for immigration violations, as well as suspects accused of public violence, harbouring undocumented migrants, and robbery.

Mosikili said police reinforcements had been deployed overnight to five of South Africa’s nine provinces to respond to isolated incidents of looting and other criminal activity.

Soldiers were also deployed to Johannesburg’s Hillbrow neighbourhood to support police operations.

Tuesday’s demonstrations were organised to mark a self-imposed “deadline” set by an anti-immigrant movement demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa.

The protests followed months of unrest that have attracted international criticism, with foreigners reportedly being forced from their homes and seeing their businesses and property vandalised.