Thousands of people gathered Tuesday in various parts of South Africa to hold the biggest demonstrations against illegal migration since anti-migrant violence broke out in 2008, killing more than 60 people.
Many African immigrants, predominantly from Zimbabwe and Malawi, are leaving South Africa because of a rise in anti-migration anger that sparked attacks against foreigners.
The attacks have coincided with a series of protests and marches in recent months by anti-immigration groups, who set Tuesday as what they called a “deadline” for people in the country illegally to leave, the first time any anti-immigrant group has done so.
They have called on the government to take action against what they say is a growing problem of illegal immigration in Africa’s biggest economy.
The groups threatened a “national shutdown” if that doesn’t happen.
South African authorities were on high alert Tuesday, with officers deployed to various parts of the country that have been identified as
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