Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 5, 2026 · 11 MIN

Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on?

from What in the World · host BBC World Service

South Africa has seen weeks of protests against illegal immigrants. Some of these protests have turned violent and people have been killed. The country is grappling with deep tensions around immigration and identity.Houses have been burned, shops damaged and looted, and people have been forced to leave their homes. There have been reports of vigilante groups checking the documentation of foreign nationals and forcing small businesses run by non-South Africans to close.Countries like Ghana and Nigeria have even been evacuating their citizens from the country.So what’s behind these recent protests? And what are authorities doing to try to reduce illegal migration in South Africa? BBC correspondent Mayeni Jones explains.We also hear what South Africans and migrant workers living in the country make of the protests. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Julia Ross-Roy and Stefania Okereke Editor: Verity Wilde.

South Africa has seen weeks of protests against illegal immigrants. Some of these protests have turned violent and people have been killed. The country is grappling with deep tensions around immigration and identity.Houses have been burned, shops damaged and looted, and people have been forced to leave their homes. There have been reports of vigilante groups checking the documentation of foreign nationals and forcing small businesses run by non-South Africans to close.Countries like Ghana and Nigeria have even been evacuating their citizens from the country.So what’s behind these recent protests? And what are authorities doing to try to reduce illegal migration in South Africa? BBC correspondent Mayeni Jones explains.We also hear what South Africans and migrant workers living in the country make of the protests. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 330 12 33 22 6 Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: William Lee Adams, Julia Ross-Roy and Stefania Okereke Editor: Verity Wilde.

NOW PLAYING

Protests against illegal migrants in South Africa: What’s going on?

0:00 11:11

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of What in the World?

This episode is 11 minutes long.

When was this What in the World episode published?

This episode was published on June 5, 2026.

What is this episode about?

South Africa has seen weeks of protests against illegal immigrants. Some of these protests have turned violent and people have been killed. The country is grappling with deep tensions around immigration and identity.Houses have been burned, shops...

Can I download this What in the World episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!