Africa-Press. Hundreds of African migrants have been forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in the mountains and remote areas of South Africa as violence and anti-foreigner protests have escalated in several cities and towns in recent weeks.
According to a local source, migrants from Malawi, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe reported that they had to hide in mountainous regions or temporary shelters after their homes were attacked and threatened by groups demanding the expulsion of foreign migrants.
Some of those fleeing stated that they left their belongings and businesses behind for fear of being assaulted, while others spoke of spending days in the open or in remote areas waiting for a chance to return to their home countries. Data has shown that migrant gatherings are living in difficult conditions after being displaced from neighborhoods that experienced violence.
These developments come after weeks of protests in various regions of South Africa, where some protesters accuse migrants of causing rising unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services—accusations that are rejected by human rights organizations and representatives of foreign communities.
In light of the deteriorating security situation, African governments have begun organizing evacuation operations for their citizens. Malawi, Mozambique, and Ghana have announced measures to repatriate citizens wishing to leave South Africa after reports of killings and assaults targeting migrants from several African nationalities.
The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called for calm and rejected violence and xenophobia, emphasizing that immigration issues should be addressed through legal institutions and state agencies, not through attacks and assaults on migrants.
Observers warn that the continuation of violence may exacerbate social tensions and affect South Africa’s relations with several African countries, at a time when the nation faces increasing economic and living challenges and rising unemployment rates.
