Fear Grips Somali Traders as South Africa’s Anti-Immigrant Deadline Expires

Johannesburg (WDN) – Businesses owned by Somali traders across several South African cities remained shuttered on Monday as fears mounted over possible attacks following the expiration of an ultimatum issued by anti-immigrant groups demanding that foreign nationals leave the country.

The deadline, which expired on June 30, came after weeks of growing tensions fueled by large-scale demonstrations organized by groups opposed to the presence of foreign-owned businesses in South Africa. Protest organizers had warned that if foreign nationals failed to leave by the end of June, they would begin targeting immigrant-owned shops in July, threatening to loot businesses and carry out violent attacks.

As the deadline passed, reports from several towns indicated that Somali-owned shops and other immigrant-run businesses remained closed as owners chose caution over commerce. Images circulating from affected areas showed normally busy commercial districts deserted, with storefronts locked and streets unusually quiet.

The atmosphere of uncertainty has left many Somali entrepreneurs fearing a repeat of previous waves of xenophobic violence that have periodically swept across South Africa, claiming lives, destroying livelihoods, and displacing hundreds of foreign nationals.