India, Brazil, South Africa oppose attacks on multilateralism, back West Asia dialogue

South African migrants are growing increasingly fearful of potential attacks as a September 30 deadline looms, imposed by an anti-immigration group called March and March. The deadline has sparked a series of protests, which organizers threaten to escalate further if their demands for undocumented foreigners to leave the country are not met.

Many refugees, however, feel little comfort in official paperwork, as hostility on the streets often precedes requests for identification documents. Refugees have been occupying pavement areas near the Durban Refugee Reception Centre, enduring harsh conditions with limited access to food, medication, and safety. On September 3, members of March and March attacked refugees near the centre, resulting in at least four injuries and prompting police intervention.

Since then, police have formed physical barriers between opposing groups to maintain order. Refugees argue that their documented status offers no protection, and incidents of police inaction have further isolated them. In mid-September, authorities cleared the makeshift camp, offering residents the choice of returning to their previous neighborhoods or accepting temporary placement at a government-run detention center.

The relocation, however, has not resolved safety concerns, as some refugees fear returning to neighborhoods where they previously fled. The situation is compounded by deep distrust of local law enforcement, who are perceived as complicit in the violence. As the deadline approaches, migrants face deep uncertainty, with some residing in detention facilities or in precarious housing in communities they once fled.