‘Extreme fear’ among immigrants as backlash sweeps South Africa

African migrants in South Africa say they are living in fear after a series of marches calling for illegal immigrants to leave reignited long-held xenophobic sentiment. March & March, a campaign group at the forefront of the protests, has given people living illegally in the country until 30 June to leave, without specifying what will happen to those who do not.

Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed in "xenophobic attacks" at the end of May, and South African police said two Mozambicans and one South African had died during an outbreak of violence in Mossel Bay. Roughly 60 miles south-east of Cape Town, about 100 people from Mozambique and Malawi sought shelter in Kleinmond town hall after an angry crowd told foreigners in an informal settlement they had to leave.

Many told Reuters they wanted help from their governments to return home; Ghana has arranged flights for several hundreds of its citizens to leave.

South Africa, Mossel Bay

xenophobia, african migrants, south africa, march &, illegal immigrants, mozambique, mossel bay, kleinmond, ghana, malawi