South African independent investigative outlet; critical of both protest violence and government's non-response

Daily Maverick reports that approximately 300 of the 900+ arrestees were undocumented migrants taken in immigration sweeps opportunistically conducted alongside the protest response, raising concerns from rights groups that the police used the protest context to conduct what amounted to mass deportation-processing raids. The outlet notes this is the first time since Operation Dudula's 2022 peak that a single-day protest action has generated this volume of arrests.

“Of those arrested, approximately 300 were undocumented migrants detained in immigration sweeps; rights groups say the protest was used as a pretext for mass raids.”

Reports approximately 300 of the 900+ arrestees were undocumented migrants taken in immigration sweeps conducted alongside the protest response, raising concerns from rights groups that police used the protest to conduct what amounted to mass deportation-processing raids. Notes this is the first time since Operation Dudula's 2022 peak that a single-day action generated this arrest volume.

“Approximately 300 of those arrested were undocumented migrants detained in immigration sweeps; rights groups say the protest was used as a pretext for mass raids.”