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African migrants with deep roots in South Africa flee xenophobic attacks
Yahoo • • world
Key Points:
- Migrants in Durban, South Africa, including long-term residents like Princess Adjei, have faced violent attacks and looting amid anti-immigration protests, despite many holding legal residency papers.
- Adjei’s hair salon was destroyed during the unrest, forcing her and her son to live on the streets alongside hundreds of other displaced migrants seeking government assistance.
- The protest group March and March denies responsibility for the violence, attributing anger to illegal immigration and blaming the government for mismanagement, though violence often coincides with their demonstrations.
- Police responses to attacks on migrants have been limited, with some migrants reporting being chased away or tear-gassed when seeking shelter, while authorities deny using force or acknowledging incidents.
- Xenophobic tensions are exacerbated by competition for jobs and services, with some analysts linking rising anti-migrant sentiment to political dynamics ahead of local elections, though provincial leaders blame poor migration management rather than politics.
