“Hunted like criminals” : ​​ONLCT denounces mass Aarrest of Burundians in South Africa

SOS Médias Burundi

Bujumbura, May 5, 2026 — The National Observatory for the Fight Against Transnational Crime (ONLCT), “Where is your brother?”, is raising the alarm about a situation it describes as serious following the arrest and imprisonment of numerous Burundian nationals in South Africa. The organization speaks of a “wave of repression” targeting African migrants in several cities across the country.

According to the ONLCT press release, at least 124 Burundians are currently held in various South African prisons. Among them, 71 were reportedly arrested during anti-immigrant demonstrations that took place between April 23 and 30 in the major cities of Durban, Johannesburg, and Pretoria. These arrests bring the total to 53 others already recorded in KwaZulu-Natal province.

The National Observatory for Combating Trafficking in Persons (ONLCT) denounces the sometimes brutal nature of the arrests and calls for investigations into the conditions under which they were carried out. The organization urges Burundian authorities to intervene immediately to protect their citizens, arguing that the situation now goes beyond simple immigration controls.

In its appeal, the organization emphasizes the need to strengthen the role of Burundian diplomatic missions in Southern Africa to monitor the cases, assist detainees, and prevent further arrests. It also calls for coordinated action at the continental level, requesting intervention from the African Union to secure the release of the Burundians involved and consider their repatriation.

The ONLCT believes these events reflect a worrying rise in xenophobia in certain regions of South Africa, where foreigners are often accused of competing with the local population in the job market.

On the ground, Burundian diplomatic authorities had already issued a warning. In a statement published on April 26, the Burundian ambassador to South Africa, Alexis Bukuru, called on Burundian nationals to avoid protest areas and limit their movements. He also recommended adjusting work schedules to reduce the risk of exposure to violence.

These tensions are occurring against a backdrop of rising anti-immigrant movements in several South African cities. Protesters believe that African foreigners are taking jobs while unemployment remains high in the country.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the violence. In a speech delivered on Freedom Day in Bloemfontein, he recalled the historical solidarity between African countries during the struggle against apartheid. He warned that no justification could legitimize attacks against foreigners.

“It cannot be, and it must never be, that we trample on the African brotherhood that made our freedom possible,” he declared.

While acknowledging concerns about unemployment and irregular migration, Ramaphosa stressed the need to uphold human rights. His government announced measures to strengthen border controls, combat corruption within immigration services, and penalize employers who exploit undocumented workers.

Burundians are among many African migrants in Southern Africa, drawn by economic opportunities, particularly in South Africa. But they, like other foreign communities, are also exposed to recurring tensions and acts of xenophobia.

According to several recent estimates, South Africa hosts between 2.4 and 4.2 million migrants, representing approximately 3.9% to 5.1% of its population. More than 63% of them come from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Malawi.