What now and what happens next after the 30 June anti-immigration deadline, and where does South Africa go from here?

South Africa has moved past the so-called 30 June deadline set by anti-immigration groups for undocumented migrants to leave the country, a deadline with no legal standing but one that prompted heightened security deployments, fears of xenophobic violence, and widespread uncertainty. Government reiterated that the deadline is unlawful and warned against vigilante action, while police and the military remained on standby in identified hotspots. Reports indicate that thousands of migrants fled their homes or sought refuge in churches, embassies and temporary shelters, with some neighbouring countries beginning repatriation processes for their citizens, as authorities closely monitored tensions amid weeks of rising anti-migrant sentiment and violence. Speaking to John Maytham, Dr Rebecca Walker, senior researcher at Wits’ African Centre for Migration & Society, assesses what unfolded around the deadline, the state response, and the impact on migrants, communities and law enforcement across South Africa.   Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show.  This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily.  Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news.  Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit.  Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk  For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i  Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5  Follow us on social media  CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.