Tens of thousands of people marched across South Africa's largest cities on Tuesday, June 30. Organized by around 20 organizations, the nationwide protests demanded a tightening of immigration policy and served as a deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country.
Protesters blamed foreigners for the nation's unemployment and high crime. These demonstrations follow months of violence and vandalism against foreigners, with recent clashes leaving at least four people dead. In response, police and soldiers were deployed, and more than 25,000 undocumented migrants have already left the country.
While the day passed mostly peacefully, police arrested more than 900 people following incidents of violence and attempted looting. The protests have stoked fears of xenophobic violence on a scale similar to the May 2008 riots that began in Johannesburg and resulted in 62 deaths. Police remained on high alert following the events.