Anti-migrant protesters gather outside SADC summit in South Africa

Protesters assembled outside the venue in Pretoria where a gathering of Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders was taking place on Tuesday, chanting for the regional heads to “fetch their people” and address the surge of undocumented migrants crossing into South Africa. Estimates from local police put the crowd at several hundred, with participants holding placards that criticized neighboring governments for what they described as lax border controls and called for immediate action to repatriate migrants who, according to the demonstrators, strain public services and security.

The demonstration underscores the growing tension between South Africa’s diplomatic outreach to its neighbours and the domestic pressure exerted by a powerful anti‑migration movement. Pretoria has been engaged in a series of bilateral talks aimed at repairing fractured ties with countries such as Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo, while simultaneously pledging to strengthen border enforcement and review immigration policies. Government officials acknowledged the protesters’ concerns but emphasized that any coordinated repatriation effort must respect international law and regional agreements, signaling a cautious approach as the continent’s leaders seek a balanced resolution to the migration dispute.