SADC Summit in Durban: protests against migrants during the regional summit

At the head of the protest appeared Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, a figure already known for having organized in the past mobilizations against the presence of foreign migrants. Participants displayed banners and chanted slogans against workers from other Southern African countries, demanding the departure from the country of anyone perceived as a 'foreigner'.

The South African government deployed a massive security operation to ensure the summit could proceed and to contain tensions. Police made arrests and used tear gas to disperse the most aggressive groups, while the main march was diverted onto an alternative route to prevent it from spilling into sensitive areas of the city.

The response of the authorities

The tensions are part of a context of growing social friction in South Africa, where reports of assaults, looting of businesses run by foreigners, and intimidation in the poorest neighborhoods have multiplied for months. Several NGOs have documented cases of foreign families forced to leave their homes under pressure.

The issue reached the proceedings of the SADC summit, where heads of state and government of member countries discussed the free movement of people within the regional area. According to diplomatic sources, several representatives raised the question of the protection of citizens living and working in other countries of the organization.

The context of social tension

Police confirmed the detention of several people during the clashes, but did not provide an official toll of the injured. Local authorities announced the opening of an investigation to ascertain responsibility for the episodes of violence and to verify any incitement to hatred.

Migrant communities present in Durban and in the other South African provinces expressed concern over the recurrence of acts of intolerance. Civil society representatives called for concrete protections and a coordinated response from national authorities and regional institutions.

International reactions

The case risks complicating South Africa's diplomatic relations with some neighboring countries, on the eve of a summit dedicated to economic cooperation and regional security. International observers urged Pretoria to guarantee the safety of all residents, regardless of nationality.

The episode brings the issue of xenophobia in South Africa back to the center of public debate, a cyclical phenomenon that in recent years has generated moments of severe humanitarian crisis. Authorities announced a series of preventive and repressive measures to prevent further escalation in the coming weeks.