South Africa asks SADC for unity after anti-migrant backlash

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged leaders at a Southern African Development Community summit in Durban on Monday, August 17, to work together on migration after anti-migrant protests and violence led more than 176,000 foreign nationals to leave in recent weeks, according to an AFP tally based on figures from the African governments involved.

South Africa briefed the 16-nation SADC meeting on the “challenge of migration,” Ramaphosa said in a closing address. He said South Africa thanked countries in the region for their understanding, expressed regret over what had happened and wanted joint efforts to address migration.

Earlier Monday, about 300 anti-migrant protesters marched to the summit venue, demanding that regional leaders “fetch their people.” Police escorted the group to the perimeter while a helicopter and drones flew overhead.

March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma said the protesters wanted Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe to take back citizens she said were in South Africa illegally. Citizens of those countries made up the bulk of the foreign nationals who departed; some left voluntarily, while others were deported or assisted through government repatriation schemes.

Ramaphosa said Friday on the sidelines of the SADC meeting that South Africa was deeply concerned and ashamed that nationals from other countries had recently faced discrimination and ill-treatment. At least four migrants were killed in the violence, according to South African police, though some foreign governments say the toll is higher.

South Africa has long attracted migrants but is facing unemployment above 30 percent and deep inequality. Its handling of the protests and violence has been criticized by other African nations, including Ghana and Nigeria, which are not in SADC. South Africa took over SADC’s rotating chairship at the summit and has called for an Africa-wide conference on migration.