The South African government urged citizens on Monday to stop vigilante actions against undocumented foreign nationals as nationwide protests intensify.
Several ministers held an emergency summit to address escalating anti-migrant demonstrations fueled by local frustrations over crime and high unemployment.
An ultimatum by a citizen-led group demanding the expulsion of all illegal migrants by June 30 has sparked widespread safety fears.
Previous waves of xenophobic violence over the past two decades have claimed dozens of lives and displaced thousands of people.
Deputy Home Affairs Minister Njabulo Nzuza acknowledged the illegal immigration problem but warned against throwing the entire country into chaos.
Officials announced they are actively boosting border controls, increasing workplace inspections, and ramping up deportations within the framework of law.
Defense Minister Angie Motshekga emphasized that only designated law enforcement officers possess the legal authority to verify any person’s identity.
Hundreds of foreign nationals recently sought emergency protection in Durban after vigilantes went door-to-door ordering them to leave the area.
The rising hostility has alarmed neighboring African governments, prompting Ghana to plan the immediate repatriation of hundreds of its citizens.
South Africa requested that regional partners address the domestic economic and governance crises driving migration to the continent’s most industrialized nation.
Analysts note the unrest mirrors deep structural problems in the country, where the official unemployment rate hovers near 33 percent.