South African anti-immigrant protesters conduct door-to-door searches

Anti-immigrant protesters in South Africa escalated their campaign Thursday, conducting door-to-door searches for undocumented migrants in Johannesburg neighborhoods, according to Reuters journalists who witnessed the activity.

In the working-class district of Katlehong in eastern Johannesburg, approximately 100 demonstrators marched through residential streets carrying wooden sticks, waving South African flags, and chanting slogans in Zulu against irregular immigration. A man with a megaphone addressed the crowd as they moved through the area. Residents, including a young woman in the neighborhood, quickly closed and secured their doors as the protesters passed.

The Thursday demonstrations marked the first weekly protest organized by South African anti-immigration groups, who have pledged to continue street actions each week to pressure the government of President Cyril Ramaphosa to expel undocumented migrants from the country.

Anti-migrant activists handed over individuals they found during the door-to-door searches to police, according to Reuters reporting from the scene. The protesters had set an informal deadline of June 30 for all undocumented migrants to leave South Africa. Thursday's actions followed the passing of that deadline.

Humanitarian groups and regional countries have placed themselves on alert as the protests continue across South Africa. Aid organizations have issued warnings about the situation as vigilantes search for undocumented migrants in various neighborhoods.