South Africa's national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, was met with furious crowds in Tshwane on Tuesday as anti-migrant sentiment boiled over. Tens of thousands took to the streets, demanding the forced removal of undocumented foreign nationals. The protests come ahead of a government-imposed deadline for the closure of the Lindela Repatriation Centre, a flashpoint for tensions in the volatile region.
Masemola, flanked by armed officers, attempted to calm the throng but was drowned out by chants of 'They must go!' The protests have triggered fears of a repeat of the 2008 xenophobic attacks that left 62 dead. With the deadline set for midnight Thursday, the clock is ticking on a crisis that has exposed deep fractures in South Africa's social fabric.
The government insists it will not deport anyone without due process, but for many locals, the status quo is untenable. Unemployment sits at 32.9 per cent and the cost of living is squeezing working families.
'Our people are hungry,' said one protester, brandishing a placard reading 'Jobs for South Africans.' The police chief has promised a 'robust but measured' response, but with tempers flaring, the line between order and chaos is razor thin.
