JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — The recent wave of Operation Ubuntu protests has brought widespread attention to the escalating crisis of xenophobic violence in South Africa, with organizers fiercely condemning law enforcement for allegedly enabling unlawful vigilante groups. Driven by a unified coalition of more than 60 civil society organizations, the nationwide mobilization seeks to secure urgent protections for foreign nationals and marginalized communities facing systemic hostility and state neglect.
Stretching across the provinces of Gauteng, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, the demonstrations represent a massive civic pushback against what activists describe as a severe human rights emergency. General Moyo, the Gauteng organiser for the movement, emphasized that the coalition is demanding robust, immediate safeguards for vulnerable populations. To formalize these grievances, organizers intend to deliver a comprehensive memorandum to Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, explicitly calling for an end to both anti-migrant attacks and unlawful forced evictions.
Providing deeper context to the crisis, Dano De Waal, President of the African Inclusion Coalition, leveled heavy criticism at the state’s security apparatus and its handling of the unrest. According to De Waal, police have expended upwards of 600 million rand managing the ongoing violence, yet officers frequently stand by or merely escort vigilante mobs instead of intervening to stop the harassment and property destruction.
De Waal also challenged the official narrative surrounding migrant departures, claiming that over 160,000 individuals have been forcefully expelled under the deceptive guise of “voluntary repatriation.” Furthermore, he highlighted the alarming trend of foreign nationals being aggressively chased out of their homes in the inner city of Johannesburg and areas like Uvel, while government repatriation sites continue to lack basic human dignity. He noted that vigilantes are now unlawfully issuing “due dates” for migrants to leave the country, further stripping them of their rights.
The mobilization also serves as a direct counter-narrative to recent anti-immigration movements that frame their actions as socioeconomic protests rather than xenophobic campaigns. When pressed on whether these opposing groups are simply expressing valid frustrations over government service delivery failures, De Waal dismissed the justification. He pointed out that foreign nationals comprise less than four percent of the national population, making it statistically illogical to blame them for the country’s broad systemic collapses.
While acknowledging the genuine anger of the working class regarding failing public systems, De Waal characterized the targeting of migrants as a misdirected form of bullying. He argued that public outrage should be aimed at the political figures and institutions accountable for the nation’s challenges, rather than its most under-resourced and vulnerable residents.
Beyond immediate physical protection, the coalition is pushing for significant legislative and policy corrections. A primary objective is the outright rejection of the proposed amendment to the Prevention of Illegal Eviction (PI) Act. De Waal stressed that South Africa must adhere to its constitutional obligations regarding refugees, noting that the law forbids returning asylum seekers to environments where their safety or human rights would be violated. Ultimately, the movement insists that the constitutional right to human dignity must apply to everyone regardless of their documentation status, and is demanding strict legal consequences for vigilantes who threaten lives and violate those fundamental rights.
