South Africa’s provincial premier warns of social unrest amid anti-immigrant protests

CAPE TOWN, June 16– South Africa’s Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has warned that anti-immigrant protests across the country could escalate into wider social unrest if tensions are not contained.

“The premier has expressed serious concern over a potential escalation which could lead to social unrest,” the Western Cape provincial government said in a statement issued on Monday.

Anti-immigrant protests have intensified in South Africa in recent months, with demonstrators calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country before June 30. Some protests have turned violent, including in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape last month, where two Mozambicans were reportedly killed.