Thousands of people joined anti-migrant protests across South Africa, marching in major cities including Johannesburg, Durban and Pretoria while police presence was heavy and security forces moved to prevent violence.

The demonstrations were tied to an unofficial deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country. In several locations, foreigners who fear intimidation said they had already fled, while others waited in temporary camps for processing and possible repatriation.

South African police said many people had been sent back, with officials citing large numbers repatriated so far, most from other African countries. Police and private security guarded routes and public buildings, and authorities said the marches were largely peaceful, with isolated incidents reported on the edges of the protests.

In Johannesburg, officials said the army was deployed on a contingency basis in parts of the city. Police also reported arrests connected to violence during protests in a neighbourhood with a high migrant population, where two people—one a teenager—were injured after shots were fired. Protesters were also reported to have damaged property in some areas, while in other parts of the city commerce slowed as some businesses closed.

The unrest comes as South Africa faces high unemployment and ongoing public anger over inequality and economic hardship. Protest groups have blamed migrants for jobs and other pressures, while critics and rights advocates warn that targeting people without documentation risks inflaming xenophobia and triggering violence.

Authorities said registered foreign nationals are present in large numbers, and they acknowledged that the overall figures do not capture the people living in South Africa without papers—an issue at the centre of the protest demands.