Thousands of police officers were deployed across South Africa after large-scale protests against illegal immigration erupted Tuesday, with destructive clashes spreading across multiple cities.

The unrest, involving thousands of protesters, broke out ahead of a June 30 deadline set by some organizers demanding the departure of all illegal migrants, according to Reuters.

The marches reportedly drew thousands of mostly poor or unemployed South Africans, who say foreign migrants have taken jobs by accepting lower wages while also fueling higher crime rates.

At least four people have been killed as violence and looting spread across the country, Reuters reported.

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The clashes mark the largest migration-related protests since anti-migrant violence erupted in South Africa in 2008.

While thousands of foreign nationals from other African countries had already fled ahead of Tuesday’s so-called deadline, tensions have remained high, Reuters said.

Multiple businesses and properties were vandalized in several areas, according to reports.

In anticipation of further attacks, many shops reportedly closed, with foreign workers staying home.

Landlords in Durban and Johannesburg also evicted foreign tenants illegally to avoid further trouble, witnesses alleged.

Reuters added that 100 Congolese nationals were reported sleeping on the streets of Durban.  

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Protesters stand with wooden sticks near a fire burning in the street in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 30, 2026. (Reuters)

While many marches were considered peaceful, police reported that they arrested several looters and fired rubber bullets to disperse crowds.

National broadcaster SABC added that protesters looted shacks belonging to foreign nationals in the Soweto township. 

In Thembisa, a suburb of Johannesburg, rioters reportedly threw stones at police and suspected migrants, with witnesses saying sporadic gunfire was heard.

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Police deployed tactical vehicles and fired shots in Benoni, east of Johannesburg, after being confronted by a group of roughly 500 protesters, Daily Maverick reported. 

Thousands of police officers have been deployed nationwide, while the military was placed on standby, a defense spokesperson said in a statement. 

«To those who intend to break the law tomorrow, our message is simple: do not test the resolve of the State,» Lt. Gen. Tebello Mosikili said. 

Protesters start a fire in the streets of Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 30, 2026. (Reuters)

The «March and March» group, one of the more prominent organizations behind the unrest, addressed the violence, saying it cannot be held responsible for spontaneous incidents breaking out during the demonstrations.  

«Unfortunately, we can’t be in every single community telling them … how to behave,» Jacinta Ngobese, leader of the March and March group, told Reuters two weeks ago. 

Ngobese said the group plans to hold weekly marches until its demands are met, despite the government rejecting the deadline and saying only authorities can enforce immigration laws.

«For ​the next six months, we are asking for our national resources to be used to take the illegal immigrants out of this country. From building to building — they ​must go,» Ngobese said, according to ZimLive.

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Despite South Africa’s high unemployment rate, the country remains Africa’s largest economy and continues to draw migrants.

The immigrant population stands at about 3 million, or roughly 4% of the total, according to StatsSA.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Miles de personas se manifestaron este martes en Sudáfrica para exigir la expulsión de los migrantes sin papeles, en medio de incidentes aislados y el creciente temor de distintas comunidades extranjeras por una ola xenófoba que invadió el país.

La movilización estuvo marcada por la muerte de un extranjero tras caer de un edificio por miedo a ser perseguido, según la policía.

Las fuerzas de seguridad se desplegaron masivamente para las protestas a nivel nacional encabezadas por grupos ciudadanos que fijaron sin sustento legal este martes como plazo para que los extranjeros sin papeles abandonaran el país.

Más de 25.000 extranjeros tramitaron su salida del país en las últimas semanas.

Hubo incidentes en Johannesburgo

Se produjeron incidentes aislados, como lanzamientos de piedras y enfrentamientos cerca de Johannesburgo, donde las fuerzas de seguridad escoltaron a algunos extranjeros para alejarlos de una turba.

Varias personas fueron detenidas por saqueos y se desplegó a soldados en Johannesburgo, corazón económico del país, de acuerdo con autoridades.

En la ciudad portuaria de Durban, los manifestantes salieron con atuendos tradicionales de guerrero zulú, portando lanzas, látigos y escudos, y algunos cubiertos con pieles de leopardo.

La manifestante Brightness Gumbi, de 48 años, dijo que estaba frustrada por no poder permitirse alquilar un local para su negocio, mientras los extranjeros sí podían regentar comercios. “Los extranjeros ilegales consiguen pagarlo porque venden drogas a nuestra gente”, declaró.

“Tengo miedo”

Al menos dos mozambiqueños, un etíope y un malauí fueron asesinados en las últimas semanas de protestas, según la policía.

Un extranjero fue hallado muerto este martes después de que presuntamente saltara desde el octavo piso de un edificio en Durban, aparentemente por miedo a ser perseguido, informó la policía.

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Mientras las protestas se desarrollaban en varias ciudades, cientos de migrantes se congregaban en Ciudad del Cabo, Johannesburgo y otros centros, aún a la espera de ayuda para regresar a sus países.

Algunos dijeron que los habían desalojado o sus empleadores los habían despedido, temiendo multas de los inspectores laborales o ataques de grupos de vigilantes.

“La gente en Sudáfrica no nos quiere aquí. Tengo miedo”, dijo una mujer zimbabuense de 23 años en Ciudad del Cabo, donde más de 1500 personas aguardaban la repatriación.

Solo unas pocas decenas de malauíes permanecían en un lugar de Durban desde donde varios miles habían sido enviados en autobús en los últimos días. “Pensé que podía quedarme, pero los vecinos nos advirtieron anoche”, contó Adam John, de 32 años.

“Sentí que era mejor tratar de volver a casa mientras aún pueda”, añadió.

En los días previos a las manifestaciones, el presidente Cyril Ramaphosa anunció que el gobierno intensificaría los planes para combatir la inmigración ilegal, incluyendo un mayor control de las fronteras y más inspecciones. Anteriores disturbios xenófobos en Sudáfrica resultaron mortales. En 2008, la violencia dejó 62 muertos.

Tres millones de extranjeros

Sudáfrica, la primera economía del continente, es un imán para la mano de obra migrante. El país se enfrenta a una tasa de desempleo superior al 30%, altos índices de criminalidad y el colapso de servicios en muchas zonas.

Unos 3 millones de extranjeros, es decir, el 5,1% de la población, viven en el país del expresidente Nelson Mandela, según las estadísticas oficiales.

Los grupos que se movilizan contra las personas indocumentadas los acusan de quitar empleos y servicios, lo que, según los analistas, supone convertir a los extranjeros en chivos expiatorios de los fracasos del gobierno.

A medida que aumentaban las tensiones, varios gobiernos africanos, entre ellos Nigeria, Malaui, Ghana, Zimbabue y Mozambique, organizaron vuelos y autobuses de repatriación voluntaria para sus ciudadanos.

Más de 25.000 personas habían sido tramitadas para su salida en las últimas semanas, señalaron las autoridades el lunes. Solo en los últimos días, casi 4300 extranjeros fueron repatriados y más de 400 deportados, informó la ministra de Justicia, Mmamoloko Kubayi, a los periodistas el martes por la noche.

(Con información de AFP)

First lady Melania Trump pointed to a passage from her bestselling memoir Tuesday after the Supreme Court ruled that states may limit women’s and girls’ sports teams to biological females, saying the decision aligns with a position she has long supported.

In a post on X, Trump highlighted a passage from Melania that was published months before the court’s landmark 6-3 decision, which held that states may determine eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause.

«As many of you may know, I fully support the LGBTQIA+ community. But we must also ensure that our female athletes are protected and respected,» the first lady wrote on X, pointing readers to page 156 of her memoir, «Melania.»

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«The U.S. Supreme Court has now legally confirmed this opinion: ‘Under Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, may schools maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females? … The answer is yes,’» Trump continued, citing the court’s decision.

«America, we can support the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and also protect opportunities for female athletes,» she added. «Respect everyone and keep girls’ sports fair. Both ideals are essential.»

The first lady’s comments came just hours after the Supreme Court established a new nationwide precedent allowing states to maintain women’s and girls’ sports teams for biological females.

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In the consolidated cases West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, the justices ruled 6-3 in favor of West Virginia and Idaho, upholding state laws requiring student-athletes to compete on teams that correspond with their biological sex at birth rather than their gender identity.

Writing for the majority, the court held: «Consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause, we hold that the States may maintain women’s and girls’ sports for biological females. They may determine eligibility for women’s and girls’ sports based on biological sex.»

The decision marks a major victory for supporters of so-called «Save Women’s Sports» laws, validating similar legislation enacted in 27 states in recent years. The ruling also clears the way for those states to continue enforcing the laws without the legal uncertainty that surrounded them while the cases moved through the courts.

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Protesters wave transgender pride flags outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson.

West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey praised the ruling, calling it «a monumental victory for every female athlete who has ever competed, or dreamed of competing, on a fair and safe playing field.»

Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador likewise hailed the decision, saying it confirmed states’ authority to «preserve fair competition and protect the opportunities that generations of women fought to secure.»

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The cases centered on West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act and Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, both of which had been blocked after legal challenges brought by transgender athletes.

Fox News Digital’s Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.