What in the World - Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on?

Download Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on?

South Africa has seen weeks of protests against illegal immigrants. Some of these protests have turned violent and people have been killed. The country is grappling with deep tensions around immigration and identity.

Houses have been burned, shops damaged and looted, and people have been forced to leave their homes. There have been reports of vigilante groups checking the documentation of foreign nationals and forcing small businesses run by non-South Africans to close.

Countries like Ghana and Nigeria have even been evacuating their citizens from the country.

So what’s behind these recent protests? And what are authorities doing to try to reduce illegal migration in South Africa? BBC correspondent Mayeni Jones explains.

We also hear what South Africans and migrant workers living in the country make of the protests.

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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: William Lee Adams, Julia Ross-Roy and Stefania Okereke
Editor: Verity Wilde.

Published on Friday, 5th June 2026.

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