South Africa on alert as
Photo: Themba Hadebe/AP/TT

South Africa on alert as xenophobic deadline expires, violence feared

South Africa is on full alert. Today is the deadline set by the civilian vigilante group: by today, all undocumented migrants must leave the country, they say.

Thousands of protesters - some armed with sticks - gathered in various locations in South Africa on Tuesday.

Police have been deployed to quell the unrest. Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants from other African countries have taken refuge in hastily set-up centres, where they are pleading for help to leave the country.

At least two Mozambicans, an Ethiopian and a Malawian have been killed in the wave of violence against migrants in recent weeks. The Citizens' Guard has been going door to door in mainly informal settlements, demanding that the migrants leave South Africa by June 30.

In recent weeks, around 25,000 people have been repatriated to their home countries, authorities told AFP on Monday.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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