South Africa braces for migrant exodus as June 30 deadline nears

Thousands of African migrants are leaving South Africa amid rising anti-migrant sentiment and protests, as anti-immigration groups set a June 30 deadline for undocumented residents to depart and threaten a national shutdown. Police are on high alert after xenophobic attacks, with neighboring countries beginning evacuations while South Africa continues deportations and tightening border controls. President Ramaphosa acknowledged border-control failures but said illegal immigration is not the sole cause of the country’s social and economic woes.