Anti-immigrant groups set June 30 as an unofficial "deadline" for undocumented migrants to leave, with protests taking place across South Africa.

Across South Africa, thousands of demonstrators converged in various locations to voice their opposition to illegal immigration. Marches took place in several cities, including Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town.

Despite the tight security measures in place, media reported isolated violent attacks against foreigners from other African countries on the fringes of the marches.

According to police reports, demonstrators stormed and looted several homes and businesses owned by migrants in the suburbs of Johannesburg. In the province of KwaZulu-Natal, police arrested ten people for looting and burglary.

Businesses close in Johannesburg
In Johannesburg, the country's financial center, most businesses closed during the protest march comprising several thousand people, with many workers staying home and public transport services being limited.

Young men carrying traditional fighting sticks and women of all ages were among the protesters marching through Johannesburg's city center. Some wore the South African flag and sang liberation songs.

Watched by police in bulletproof vests and riot helmets, they carried posters with slogans such as "SA withdraw from the UN refugee convention," "The future of our kids" and "80% of children born in Limpopo province are born to foreign nationals."

"Today is the last day," protester Nkele Thebe said at the start of the Johannesburg march. "After today, we’ll be dealing with our president and our nation. We don't want an outsider to come interfere."

Protesters demand mass deportation
In Durban — a southeastern city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal — protesters turned out in traditional warrior attire. Some carried spears, whips, and shields, while others were draped in leopard skins.

"South Africans have been replaced by illegal foreigners, increasing unemployment," Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, the leader of the anti-immigrant March and March group, told a crowd in Durban.

"We want mass deportation," she said. "For the next six months we want the government to get rid of the people who have not left."

As reported by the media, Ngobese-Zuma announced weekly demonstrations to her supporters in Durban for the coming months.

Meanwhile, only around a hundred people took part in the anti-migrant march in Cape Town, a popular tourist destination, where a counter-demonstration against xenophobia was also held.

Police out in force to curb violence
South African police have deployed in large numbers to ensure security at the planned anti-immigrant protests amid fears of possible looting and violence.

Firoz Cachalia, the country's police minister, has emphasized that any unlawful actions will be met with force.

He said crime, intimidation, violence, destruction of property and any attempt to undermine public safety will not be tolerated.

This comes as thousands of people, mostly from Malawi and Zimbabwe, gathered in Cape Town and Johannesburg are still waiting for assistance to return to their home countries.

Some have said they have been evicted from their homes or fired from their jobs by landlords or employers who fear reprisal from vigilante groups.

Several African governments have, for the first time ever, organized planes or buses to repatriate their citizens ahead of the unauthorized June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant groups for undocumented foreign nationals.

South Africa has seen some deadly flare-ups of violence in the past targeting undocumented foreign nationals, with 62 people killed in riots in 2008.