South Africa is facing a dangerous surge in xenophobic tensions ahead of planned nationwide marches on June 30, with a citizen-led group having issued an ultimatum for all undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by that date. The campaign, led by a coalition called March and March and more than 20 allied civic organisations, has already triggered a wave of violence that has left at least three people dead according to official South African sources — though Mozambican authorities say five of their nationals have been killed. Thousands of migrants from Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, and Nigeria have fled or are waiting in makeshift camps in the eastern port city of Durban and the financial capital Johannesburg for transport home, prompting warnings from aid organisations of a deepening humanitarian crisis.

President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on Thursday to deploy security forces in full and crush any attempt to destabilise the country.