What Happened
Bishop Raphael Bahebwa, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo who has lived in South Africa for 26 years, reported that he is in hiding after receiving death threats linked to his advocacy for foreign nationals’ rights. He said the threats stem from the anti‑immigration group March and March, which has declared a September 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
On September 3, members of March and March confronted refugees and asylum seekers camped outside the Durban Refugee Reception Centre on Che Guevara Road, leading to a violent clash in which at least four people were injured and police intervened. In mid‑September, authorities cleared the makeshift camp, transporting 274 individuals by bus to the Lindela detention facility in Gauteng on September 15, while roughly 150 others remained in Durban seeking alternative shelter.
What the Evidence Establishes
According to South Africa’s Inter‑Ministerial Committee on Migration, between June 14 and August 20, 2026 authorities processed 86,596 foreign nationals for deportation or repatriation. Malawians constituted the largest group, followed by Zimbabweans and Mozambicans; government data indicate that 90 percent of those repatriated had entered South Africa illegally and 95 percent had crossed the border outside official ports of entry.
Lindela is described as a government‑run immigration detention centre used to hold individuals facing deportation. Bishop Bahebwa said police told migrants they could not open cases because they are foreigners, leaving them with nowhere to go. Kafuti Muyumba, a refugee representative and small business owner from the DRC, noted that many refugees lost their livelihoods during months of upheaval and are now desperate to find accommodation.
Where the Accounts Conflict
March and March characterizes its campaign as targeting only undocumented migration and insists it is not xenophobic, stating that its goal is for undocumented immigrants to return home. Refugee advocates such as Bishop Bahebwa and Kafuti Muyumba counter that hostility on the streets is directed at foreigners regardless of documentation, with attacks occurring even when individuals present papers.
Police officials say they will enforce the law and expect protesters to remain within legal bounds, yet refugees allege that police allowed March and March to attack demonstrators with sticks, refused to open cases for victims, and told migrants they must leave the country, suggesting a discrepancy between official statements and on‑the‑ground conduct.
Context and Stakes
South Africa has experienced outbreaks of xenophobic violence before, most notably in 2008 when dozens were killed and thousands displaced, and again in 2015. The current fears expressed by refugees echo those earlier episodes, and the Lindela facility’s long association with detention and repatriation raises concerns about the potential for prolonged confinement of those transferred there.
Approaching local government elections scheduled for November 4, 2026, migration has become a prominent political issue, with parties likely to leverage anti‑immigrant sentiment to win votes. For refugees, the September 30 deadline adds another layer of uncertainty atop existing challenges such as limited access to formal housing, healthcare, and steady income.
What to Watch Next
The September 30 deadline set by March and March remains the immediate flashpoint; observers should monitor whether the group stages a large protest on that date and whether police intervene to prevent a recurrence of the violence seen on September 3. Any increase in troop presence, road closures, or pre‑emptive arrests will be key indicators of the state’s response.
After the deadline, attention will shift to the November 4 municipal elections. Watch for campaign speeches or party manifestos that propose stricter immigration measures, any official announcements regarding expanded capacity at Lindela, and further reports of refugee relocations from Durban to other provinces or back to their countries of origin.
Bottom Line
The convergence of an activist‑imposed deadline, a documented history of xenophobic outbreaks, and an electoral cycle creates a heightened risk of violence against foreign nationals in South Africa, especially in Durban where refugees have been living in makeshift camps for months. The situation is compounded by the fact that many refugees perceive little difference between documented and undocumented status when hostility is driven by broader anti‑foreigner sentiment.
While the government maintains it is merely enforcing immigration law and denies any change in policing approach, the evidence of prior police inaction and refugee testimonies suggests that documented status offers little protection when anger is directed at foreigners. The outcome will depend on how authorities manage protests on September 30 and whether election‑related rhetoric translates into concrete policy shifts after November 4.
DECLASSIFIED SOURCE: Al Jazeera - News (via Real-time Signal Upgrade)
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