South Africa’s president acknowledges rising tensions over migration

Anti-migrant protest groups have said they’ve set a June 30 deadline for foreign nationals who are in South Africa illegally to leave and have requested talks with the government.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — South Africa’s president promised Sunday to act on what he called concerns over illegal migration following a rise in anti-immigrant protests and sentiment in Africa’s most advanced economy, with other nations claiming their citizens have been targeted in xenophobic attacks.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s comments in a speech on national television dedicated to the issue were an acknowledgment of the tensions. Anti-migrant protest groups have said they’ve set a June 30 deadline for foreign nationals who are in South Africa illegally to leave and have requested talks with the government.

South Africa has a history of violence sparked by anger over the presence of migrants, including in 2008 when more than 60 people were killed in what international rights groups called xenophobic attacks on foreigners.