Just over 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela expressed his sadness and anger at the rising hatred of foreigners in South Africa.
“We had a legacy of unity and solidarity here,” the president told an African National Congress rally. “We are not victims to the influx of foreign people.”
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Since then, xenophobic violence has periodically erupted.
In 2008, anti-migrant attacks killed at least 62 people. Now a new wave is sweeping the country.
Thousands marched in the streets on Tuesday – the arbitrary “deadline” that campaign groups had set for migrants to leave the country.
More than 25,000 people did so in the run-up, with some countries evacuating their nationals and individuals fleeing in fear.
Mozambique says five nationals were killed in anti-foreigner violence in May, and Ghana says a citizen was killed on Monday, though South African officials have offered different accounts.
Migrants have been systematically blocked from health and other services by the Operation Dudula and March & March movements.
Official statistics show that migrants make up less than 5% of the population, or around 3 million.
Campaigners implausibly claim that there could be 10 times as many and say that they are targeting illegal migration.
Migrants say that documentation, living in the country for decades and marriage to South Africans have offered no protection from intimidation and worse.
Homegrown Problems
Faced with unemployment at over 40%, inequality, crime and overstretched public services, poorer South Africans especially blame migrants for taking jobs, breaking the law and burdening health and education systems.
