Friday June 19, 2026
Johannesburg (HOL) — Somalis living in South Africa are expressing growing concern over a rise in anti-immigrant campaigns and protests linked to xenophobia, as groups call for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Abdullahi Moalim Hogsade, a Somali rights activist in South Africa, said Thursday that fear has spread through the Somali community, particularly among people without formal residency permits.
"Some Somalis have returned to Somalia, while others remain in South Africa worried about what could happen when a deadline for undocumented immigrants expires," he noted.
He said Somali-owned businesses have been visited by government officials checking registration documents and the legality of their operations.
The inspections have affected Somali livelihoods and businesses, Hogsade said.
Hogsade said he expects the government to take further action as political pressure grows ahead of local government elections later this year.
The concerns come as anti-immigrant groups intensify campaigns against foreign nationals. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned South Africans not to blame vulnerable communities for the country’s economic problems.
Somali traders and migrants have long faced insecurity in parts of South Africa, where xenophobic attacks and business-related violence have periodically targeted foreign-owned shops.
