In this Based Camp episode, Simone and Malcolm Collins dive into the rising anti-immigration protests in South Africa — led by Black South Africans against illegal immigrants from other African nations. From “March and March” and Operation Dudula marches to demands for mass deportations, shop closures, and prioritizing citizens for jobs, this movement echoes familiar themes of economic frustration, crime concerns, and strained resources.

Is this “Black MAGA”? Why is the global media quick to label it xenophobia while downplaying similar grievances elsewhere? The Collins discuss unemployment realities (32-33%), government responses, comparisons to US/UK/Canada immigration levels, ethnic economic niches, and why South Africans feel under attack from within Africa.

Expect unfiltered analysis, humor, genetic tangents, and real talk on immigration policy that transcends race. What happens when citizens fight back against illegal immigration in their own country?

Show Notes

When I think of “anti-immigration protests” the image that pops into my head is of white people being angry about non-white people entering their neighborhoods and taking their jobs

This happens so much that subconsciously even I sometimes find myself assuming this is a “white people clutching their pearls about their land being taken” thing, when it’s not

And recent anti-immigrant protests in South Africa are proof of this.

South Africa has seen a wave of anti-immigration (often described as anti-illegal immigration or xenophobic) protests and related violence in April–May 2026, concentrated in major cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and spreading to others.

Key Details

* According to the BBC at least, the main driver is the citizen-led group March and March, which advocates for stricter immigration enforcement, border control, mass deportations of undocumented migrants, and prioritizing South Africans for jobs, housing, and services.

* Protests have drawn hundreds to thousands of participants, with marches to government buildings (e.g., Union Buildings in Pretoria), shop closures by foreign-owned businesses out of fear, and some “clean-up” campaigns.

* Involvement or alignment from Operation Dudula (a vigilante-style anti-immigrant movement meaning “push out” in Zulu), ActionSA, Patriotic Alliance, and other local forums (e.g., Thokoza Abahambe Forum).

* Some political figures, like Floyd Shivambu of the Africa Mayibuye Movement, have endorsed the concerns as legitimate ahead of local elections.

* As CNN reports (here’s an Instagram link), protesters accuse undocumented migrants (primarily from other African countries, and some Asians) of taking jobs, engaging in crime/drug dealing, overloading public services (health, housing, schools), and straining the economy.

* Some issued a June 30, 2026, ultimatum for undocumented foreigners to leave, with warnings of consequences.

* Chants and actions target “illegal foreigners.”

* THIS IS EXACTLY THE SAME RHETORIC YOU HEAR IN THE USA

So this is NOT about white people at all, right?

* Yeah, the protesters are primarily South African citizens, often from poorer communities, unemployed youth, township residents, and those feeling economic pressure.

* See some footage from Sky News posted on reddit here

* Note: South Africa’s official unemployment rate is very high (~32-33%), with widespread frustration over service delivery failures after decades of ANC governance, corruption allegations, and inequality.

* They’re largely mad about immigrants from other African countries

* Nigerians, Zimbabweans, Congolese, Ethiopians, Ghanaians

Is immigration uniquely high in South Africa vis a vis other countries? Or other African countries? Is it higher than normal?

South Africa’s immigration levels are not uniquely high by global standards, but they stand out significantly within Africa and have risen notably in recent decades.

Key Metrics (UN DESA 2024 Data)

* South Africa: ~2.63 million international migrants, representing ~4.1% of its total population (up from ~3.2% in 1990 and ~4.3% in 2010). (UN)

* Global average: ~3.7% of world population (~304 million migrants). (Migration Policy Intitute)

* Africa overall: ~1.9% (29.2 million migrants across the continent). (UN)

A few other African countries have higher proportions due to specific factors (e.g., economic pull or refugee hosting):

* Côte d’Ivoire: ~9.0% (around 2.88 million migrants) — historically one of the highest in sub-Saharan Africa due to cocoa plantations and labor migration from neighbors like Burkina Faso.

* Others like Djibouti (~10.8%), Gabon, or some refugee-hosting nations (e.g., Uganda, Sudan) can show elevated shares in certain years.

* Most African countries are well below 2–3%.

Many high-income countries have 10–30%+ migrant shares (e.g., Gulf states 30–50%+, Australia ~30%, Europe/North America 12–16% averages). South Africa’s level is comparable to some other emerging economies but amplified by regional disparities

How does South Africa’s rates of immigration and illegal immigration compare to those in the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK?

Basically, South Africa’s total migrant share is not high compared to these countries, but its challenges with undocumented migration (relative to enforcement capacity and economic conditions) appear more acute proportionally and socially. High-unemployment townships amplify perceptions of strain from irregular inflows, unlike the more managed systems in the Anglosphere nations.

Statements from Protesters

From March and March Leaders and Protesters

Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma (Founder and National Leader of March and March):

“They are not victims... If you walk down the roads, you will find that they take buildings. There are drugs. There is prostitution. There are cartels. There are mafias. So, everything in this country is a fertile ground for criminals to thrive.”“We are under attack from across Africa… The only thing that they do is to label us as xenophobic. There is nothing xenophobic about wanting law and order in your country.”On government inaction: “We’re frustrated, tired, and feel ignored by our own government... Our demand is that our government is moving at a snail’s pace in addressing the issue of illegal immigrants.”

Sanele Nkambule (Treasurer, March and March):

“Many spaza shops and informal businesses in the townships are owned or run by foreign nationals without proper trading rights... [placing] an unfair burden on citizens who pay taxes.” He called for all such shops to be run by South Africans, audits of immigrants, review of study visas, and army deployment in high-immigrant areas.

Anonymous demonstrator (to BBC during Pretoria march):

“We are grateful that we now have groups like this that have come up to aid the voice of what we have always been preaching about — illegal immigration is a big problem to our society.” (Referring to the “influx of illegal immigrants” that politicians ignore.)

From Associated Groups

Thami Madondo (National Executive Committee member, linked to Operation Dudula/March and March-aligned actions):

“The immigration laws of the country have never been enforced by the law enforcement agencies... And that’s why we’re sitting with all of these crises. … We are stressing the fact that illegal foreigners in the country must leave.” He criticized “Ubuntu” narratives in this context: “That narrative of Ubuntu, unfortunately, is the nonsense that has put us where we are today. Ubuntu doesn’t mean that you must come into the country illegally.”

Tshepo Totwe (Secretary, Abahambe Movement, collaborating with March and March):

“We are here to partake and collaborate with March on March on a progressive march that is involving different organisations and also national forums to collaborate and fight against the foreign nationals that are taking advantage of our economic freedom in our country... That is the key purpose for us to indicate and send a message that we are being labelled as xenophobic, and that is not the point.”

What are these protests like?

* Human Rights Watch (citing “xenophobic attacks”) reports that some protests have escalated into vigilante actions, assaults on migrants (including beatings, shop attacks, and reported deaths—e.g., Nigerians, Ethiopians), and intimidation....