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'They can kill you': Immigrants fear a surge in xenophobic violence in South Africa
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South Africans dressed in traditional attire protest against illegal migration on April 29 in Johannesburg. Themba Hadebe/AP hide caption toggle caption Themba Hadebe/AP Johannesburg has always been a melting pot. Traverse South Africa's economic capital and you'll come across Zimbabweans trained as doctors but driving Ubers, Ethiopians running bustling restaurants, and Congolese selling colorful wax print fabrics. Some of these immigrants have lived here for years. Others have recently arrived, seeking a better life in one of the continent's richest and most stable democracies. Some are here legally, others not. But all of them are now under threat — not just in Johannesburg but across the country, from Durban to Cape Town — as South Africa is engulfed by a rising tide of xenophobia. For months now, mobs of anti-immigrant protesters, many brandishing sticks, have been marching through the streets chanting "Mabahambe" — a Zulu phrase meaning "They must go." Some of them claim to perform "arrests" and say they have the right to check immigration papers, although they have no legal authority to do so. Foreign-owned businesses have been attacked, people chased from their homes, and several migrants have been killed. In Durban, it's a tinder keg, and thousands of Malawians who have fled their homes to escape the violence have camped out in the open, in winter, begging their country to send buses to rescue them. In Cape Town, hundreds of Zimbabweans also camped outside their consulate. Nigeria, Ghana and Mozambique weren't waiting — they've already repatriated those citizens who wanted to leave. They're right to be scared. In 2008, xenophobic riots left more than 60 dead — some burned alive by mobs — and tens of thousands displaced. There were deadly riots again in 2019. This year, so far, a Malawian and several Mozambicans have been reported killed. South Africans in Johannesburg protest against illegal migration on April 29. Themba Hadebe/AP hide caption toggle caption Themba Hadebe/AP The main xenophobic movement leading the charge this time is called March and March. It's led by a media-savvy former radio presenter from Durban named Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. NPR contacted her for comment, but she did not reply by date of publication. "South Africa will be great again. It just needs all of us to rise and defeat our enemy," she said at one recent press conference. There are also established political parties that have jumped on the xenophobia bandwagon, anti-immigrant vitriol is all over TikTok, and fake news is spreading like wildfire on social media. March and March has given all illegal immigrants in South Africa until June 30 to leave the country, an arbitrary date, and they have not specified what will happen when it passes. Scapegoats for economic woes All these groups blame immigrants for "stealing jobs." South Africa's official unemployment rate is one of the worst in the world at over 30%, with youth unemployment at over 60%. They also blame the country's high crime levels on foreigners. But the data shows neither problem can be blamed solely on immigration, but rather years of economic stagnation and government mismanagement. Displaced migrants queue at a deportation site in Durban, South Africa, on June 17. AP hide caption toggle caption AP South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has tried to calm tensions, but the xenophobic feeling here is so entrenched now that he's walking a fine line between condemning any violence and capitulating to some of their demands. He has promised to strengthen the borders, crack down on undocumented immigrants and those employing them, and address the genuine economic challenges facing South Africans. "We recognize that many communities are frustrated by crime, unemployment and pressure on public services. …The roots of these challenges lie primarily in inequality, slow economic growth and weaknesses in service delivery," he said in a recent address. "Addre
Nathan Ngoy sent off for hauling down Mehdi Taremi, whose first-half strike was called offside, in a close Group G match.Belgium were held to a scoreless draw by Iran in a frustrating encounter that saw the Red Devils reduced to 10 men and facing the possibility of group-stage elimination for a second consecutive World Cup.A star-studded, though ageing, lineup, including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, was fortunate to leave Los Angeles with a point on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Mexico City looks to rein in street drinking after massive World Cup partylist 2 of 4What the US-Iran peace deal means for the ‘Team Melli’ World Cup campaignlist 3 of 4US refuses to ease World Cup travel restrictions for Iranian teamlist 4 of 4Egypt coach denies Salah rift as Pharaohs seek first World Cup winend of listBelgium controlled possession yet ceded the game’s best chances to a resolute Iranian defence.Iran’s Mehdi Taremi had the ball in the net from a well-worked first-half free kick that was overturned for offside by VAR, while Nathan Ngoy was sent off after the break for hauling down the striker following a badly mishit back-pass.The result means all three games in Group G so far have ended in draws. Stuck on two points, Belgium at least have the comfort of playing the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, New Zealand, in their final group game.Iran will also need at least a point against Egypt next Friday. Having been frustrated by visa issues while travelling from their base camp in Mexico to play games in the United States, Team Melli will hope to focus on the football as travel restrictions are reportedly easing for their crucial trip to Seattle.For the second Iran game running, protesters from Los Angeles’s large Iranian-American community gathered at the stadium to chant against the country’s current regime.Inside the stadium, Iran’s anthem again drew a chorus of boos and whistles, a reception at odds with the response to the players themselves, who were loudly cheered throughout the game.Having switched to a back five, Iran sat deep in the first half, allowing Belgium to dominate possession and play hundreds of passes around their penalty area without creating any clear-cut opportunities.Target man Lukaku, back in the starting lineup after making an impact from the bench in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, managed a solitary headed effort in the 36th minute, which sailed over the bar.Iran had the first half’s two best chances, entirely against the run of play. Hossein Kanani’s low shot after a long throw was well saved by an outstretched Thibaut Courtois.And Iran’s star striker Taremi had the ball in the net midway through the half after a cleverly worked free kick, but it was ruled offside.The former Inter Milan man spun away from Belgium’s wall, swivelled and buried the ball, before VAR overruled the effort, to the dismay of a vocally pro-Iran crowd.After the break, Belgium continued to huff and puff, while Taremi again nearly scored at the other end. Courtois did well to save after Kanani had flicked on a long throw to the Iran forward.Belgium coach Rudi Garcia made a triple substitution around the hour mark, and his side immediately came close – Maxim De Cuyper’s point-blank effort from De Bruyne’s cut-back was well saved.Substitute Hans Vanaken blasted a shot from a rebound well over the bar moments later, as the Red Devils finally began to knock on Iran’s door in earnest.But disaster struck for Belgium as Ngoy was sent off. The centre-back had badly under-hit a pass back to Courtois and raised his arm into Taremi as the striker raced through on goal.The game settled into a nervous, scrappy stalemate, though De Cuyper again came close with a low effort from just outside the box.
Demonstrators chant “Albania is not for sale,” challenging coastal projects tied to Kushner amid environmental concerns.Protesters march through central Tirana, as one of Albania’s largest recent rallies denounces a Trump-linked luxury resort planned on the protected Vjosa-Narta coast [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]By AFP and APPublished On 21 Jun 2026Thousands of protesters have marched through Albania’s capital, Tirana, in one of the largest rallies yet against a luxury resort project linked to United States President Donald Trump that has become a lightning rod for anger over alleged corruption.Since late May, demonstrators have gathered every evening to oppose the planned construction of a hotel complex tied to Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner, on a protected stretch of the Balkan country’s coast.Saturday’s march drew what appeared to be one of the biggest crowds since the movement began, with many members of the Albanian diaspora travelling home to join. Waving Albanian and US flags, protesters released red balloons and chanted “Albania is not for sale,” a slogan projected onto the facade of the prime minister’s office.“We are not against the country’s development; we are against the arrogance and lack of transparency surrounding projects that affect our lives,” said Alma, a science student.The Kushner-backed resort, along with another planned development on nearby Sazan Island, would sit near key breeding grounds for migratory birds in the Vjosa-Narta protected area, including flocks of flamingos.Environmental concerns have fused with wider anger at Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom protesters accuse of opaque deals along the coast. Many now say they will remain on the streets until he resigns.Rama, who has stayed defiant, told a party meeting that he would not step down and argued that the controversy is driven more by Kushner’s name and the “shadow of Trump” than by the project itself.Marchers brandish placards accusing the government of corruption, saying coastal development deals are being struck behind closed doors. [Adnan Beci/AFP]Protesters takes part in a rally in Tirana. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]Protesters pledge to stay in the streets until Prime Minister Edi Rama quits, accusing his government of hiding details of major coastal projects. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]The project spans a wildlife reserve and an uninhabited island, and protesters have voiced concerns about the impact on biodiversity. Heavy machinery entered the area at the end of last month, prompting further outrage. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]Images of flamingos in flight are held aloft at the rally, symbolising fears for migratory birds that breed near the planned resort and Sazan Island projects. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]Protesters from abroad return home to join the movement, with members of the Albanian diaspora swelling the ranks of the Tirana marches. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]Chants echo through Tirana’s main boulevard, as demonstrators insist they will not leave the streets until Prime Minister Edi Rama steps down. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]Night after night, crowds gather in the capital, keeping up pressure on the government to halt a luxury hotel project in a protected coastal reserve. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]“Albania is not for sale” is projected onto the prime minister’s office as crowds demand Edi Rama’s resignation over the Trump-linked resort plan. [Hameraldi Agolli/AP Photo]
Calls to remove Iran’s clerical regime sounded outside Iran’s opening match at the World Cup.Iranian-Americans gathered in Los Angeles to protest the presence of Iran’s team, which they believe is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).Iran striker Mehdi Taremi told reporters this week that US-Iran political tension “undermines the joy” of the World Cup.Read more about this story here. Just now
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