Recent protests in South Africa against illegal migrants, led by groups like the March and March movement, have ignited a contentious debate about whether these demonstrations are xenophobic or stem from valid concerns about undocumented immigration. Protesters claim that illegal migrants are straining South Africa's job market, education, and healthcare systems, with some protests escalating to violence and documented assaults on individuals accused of illegal residency. This volatility has prompted several African nations, including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Lesotho, Nigeria, and Ghana, to issue safety advisories and even arrange repatriation for their citizens, with some summoning South African envoys over alleged xenophobic incidents. However, the South African government, through presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, disputes the xenophobic label, characterizing the events as constitutionally permissible protests by "pockets" of citizens.