Human rights groups condemn violence amid illegal migrant protests

International and local human‑rights bodies have voiced strong opposition to the recent anti‑immigrant demonstrations that paralysed parts of South Africa on June 30.

The Institute for Economic Justice urged the government to act swiftly against hate speech and the vigilant groups that have taken law‑and‑order into their own hands. The IEJ warned that political leaders are exploiting community frustration to stoke further division.

According to Reuters, protestors in the centre of Durban shouted slogans demanding the removal of “illegal foreigners,” alleging that they prevent locals from obtaining jobs. Such claims have been widely disputed by economists who point to structural unemployment and policy failures as the root causes of job scarcity.

Since 2008, South Africa has witnessed intermittent attacks on migrants, blurring the line between legal and illegal entrants. The IEJ clarified its stance: it opposes all forms of violence targeting migrants and condemns any group that attempts to impose its own version of justice.