Police Out in Force to Curb Violence Amid Anti-Immigrant Protests

Cape town: South African police have deployed in large numbers to ensure security at the planned anti-immigrant protests amid fears of possible looting and violence. Firoz Cachalia, the country's police minister, has emphasized that any unlawful actions will be met with force. He stated that crime, intimidation, violence, destruction of property, and any attempt to undermine public safety will not be tolerated.According to Deutsche Welle, this heightened security comes as thousands of people, mostly from Malawi and Zimbabwe, gathered in Cape Town and Johannesburg are still waiting for assistance to return to their home countries. Many have reported being evicted from their homes or fired from their jobs by landlords or employers who fear reprisal from vigilante groups.In response to the growing tension, several African governments have, for the first time, organized planes or buses to repatriate their citizens ahead of the unauthorized June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for undocumented foreign nationals. South Africa has previously experienced deadly flare-ups of violence targeting undocumented foreign nationals, with 62 people killed in riots in 2008.