Cape town: South Africa's Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has made a public appeal for calm and adherence to the rule of law in the face of mounting nationwide protests against undocumented foreign nationals. The appeal comes as anti-immigrant groups have threatened an unofficial deadline of June 30 for undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the country.According to Nam News Network, some demonstrations have already turned violent, particularly in informal settlement communities, where reports suggest that door-to-door raids have indiscriminately targeted foreign nationals, regardless of their immigration status. In his statement released on Monday, Premier Winde emphasized the importance of lawful conduct, stating, "We fully respect every resident's constitutional right to protest. However, this right must always be exercised peacefully and within the bounds of the law. I call on all residents to reject violence in all its forms. There is no justification for violence under any circumstances."The e scalation of tensions has prompted the Western Cape Government to enhance inter-agency coordination and implement contingency plans aimed at preventing further social unrest. Winde reiterated the government's commitment to safeguarding the safety and wellbeing of all residents while maintaining the rule of law. He also urged undocumented foreign nationals to regularize their immigration status in South Africa.In response to the unrest, thousands of African immigrants from countries including Malawi, Mozambique, Ghana, and Zimbabwe have sought safety elsewhere, with many opting for government-assisted repatriation to their home countries. The Ugandan government recently announced plans to repatriate its nationals from South Africa after 746 citizens expressed their intention to return home due to concerns over their security and safety.In a related development, Zimbabwean nationals who had been camping outside the Zimbabwean Consulate in Cape Town were transferred to a Department of Home Affairs Repatriati on Center in Epping for processing on Sunday morning.
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