00:27South Africa is a
00:29South Africa is on edge today as nationwide anti-migrant protests threaten to push the country into another wave of
00:37unrest. Thousands of police officers have been deployed, businesses have shut their doors, and migrants are desperately trying to leave
00:47before tensions escalate.
00:48The protests come after anti-migrant groups declared June 30th as an unofficial deadline demanding undocumented foreign nationals leave South
01:00Africa.
01:00While the demonstrations are expected to take place across the country, authorities fear they could turn violent.
01:09In Johannesburg, the city center looks unusually quiet. Shops in Fordsburg, Newtown, and the popular Oriental Plaza have remained closed,
01:20with many business owners unwilling to take chances despite government assurances that security is in place.
01:27Police have been deployed in large numbers across major cities, including Johannesburg and Durban.
01:35South Africa's police minister has warned that any violence, intimidation, looting, or destruction of property will be dealt with firmly.
01:44Acting police commissioner Palang Dempani says security forces are fully prepared to keep the country safe.
01:53Meanwhile, thousands of migrants, mainly from Zimbabwe and Malawi, are gathering at consulates and assistance centers hoping to return home.
02:03Many say they have already been forced out of their homes or lost their jobs, as landlords and employers fear
02:11retaliation from vigilante groups.
02:14Several African governments, including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Mozambique, have begun organizing buses and flights to repatriate their citizens, an
02:25unprecedented move driven by growing security concerns.
02:29President Cyril Ramaphosa has appealed for calm.
02:34He acknowledged public concerns over illegal immigration, border security, and pressure on public services, but stressed that peaceful protest is
02:44a constitutional right, while violence and vigilantism are not.
02:48He also reminded South Africans that millions of foreign nationals live and work legally in the country, contributing to the
02:57economy and deserving equal protection under the law.
03:02Analysts say the crisis goes far beyond migration.
03:05They argue that soaring unemployment, deep inequality, weak governance, corruption, and frustration with public services have fueled growing anger, with
03:16migrants increasingly becoming the target.
03:19The concern is heightened by South Africa's painful history.
03:24In 2008, xenophobic riots claimed 62 lives, leaving authorities determined to prevent a repeat.
03:33As protests begin across the country, all eyes are on whether South Africa can avoid another deadly chapter, or whether
03:41today's demonstrations will deepen one of its most challenging social crises.
03:49As protests begin across the time, crackling up to among them, thousands of human populations have grown.
03:53We'll know more, perhaps 200-meg Share of this in a new culture.
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