Hundreds of foreign nationals gathered outside a community centre in Durban on Wednesday, seeking refuge after fleeing their homes following alleged attacks by anti-immigrant groups.
A refugee community leader told Anadolu that the migrants first sought refuge at the Durban Police station late on Monday, but were forcefully dispersed on Tuesday, causing them to sleep outside the Diakonia Centre in Durban.
"There are about 800 refugees who have gathered here at the Diakonia Centre, seeking safety after they fled their homes,” Malipo Lukandamiza Mbalanga, executive director of the African Refugee and Migrant Aid (ARMA), told Anadolu via telephone.
Anti-immigrant groups have been holding protests across the country and moving door-to-door, demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country or face consequences.
UN intervention sought
Mbalanga said his organisation and other refugee groups have written to the United Nations Refugee Agency in Geneva to seek assistance.
As migrants sought safety at the community centre, hundreds of South African nationals marched in nearby Pinetown, demanding the government deport all illegal immigrants, forcing shops to close, fearing they could be looted.
The demonstrations are organised by a citizens-led movement known as the March and March, which is supported by some political parties seeking tighter laws on migration.
Protesters accuse migrants of committing crimes and crowding social services such as schools and hospitals.
President condemns violent protests
Earlier this month, President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned groups orchestrating violence against foreign nationals, warning that lawlessness will not be tolerated and action will be taken against perpetrators.
“We must make it clear that there is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, ethnic mobilisation, intolerance or violence,” he wrote in on the presidency's website.
He said violent protests and criminal acts targeting foreign nationals do not reflect the views of South Africans or the government policy, but were acts of opportunistic people.
Thousands of African and Asian migrants have flocked to Africa's most industrialised economy, seeking work, business, education and asylum, since the end of apartheid in 1994.
Number of foreigners in South Africa unclear
But the number of illegal foreign nationals living in South Africa remains unclear, but some anti-immigrant groups estimate it could be more than three million.
South Africa hosts more than 167,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
