South Africa's June 30 anti-immigration protests pass with scattered violence

South Africa's much-anticipated 30 June anti-immigration protests passed largely without the widespread violence many had feared, as thousands marched in cities across the country under heavy security over the presence of undocumented migrants.

The day was not entirely peaceful. In the Johannesburg neighbourhood of Hillbrow, home to many immigrants, marchers moved through the streets and smaller groups broke off to throw stones at windows. Three suspects were arrested after two people, including a 17-year-old, were shot and wounded; marchers then set fire to the suspects' vehicle, and the South African National Defence Force was deployed to the area.

In Cape Town, the city reported arrests overnight for public violence and malicious damage to property, after opportunistic attacks targeted foreign-owned businesses in several townships. Nationally, police recorded scores of arrests across provinces for looting, public violence and immigration-law offences.

Officials and civil society leaders commended the largely peaceful character of the marches while reaffirming the right to protest. The demonstrations were driven by frustration over unemployment and service delivery, with organisers demanding tougher action on undocumented migration.

The protests capped weeks of rising tension that had prompted several African governments to repatriate nationals from South Africa, amid warnings from rights groups about the risk of xenophobic violence against foreign communities.