MORE than 500 Zimbabwean nationals gathered outside their country’s consulate in Cape Town today seeking government-assisted repatriation, as fears mount over anti-immigrant demonstrations planned for June 30.

This comes after xenophobic anti-immigrant groups issued an unofficial deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, raising concerns of violence following threats directed at migrants regardless of their legal status.

Families carrying luggage crowded the Zimbabwean consulate and surrounding streets, with some spending the night on pavements before being allowed inside the building as space became available.

Aid organisations distributed food and water after local, provincial and national authorities failed to provide assistance.

The aid groups warned of deteriorating conditions, saying hundreds of people, including children and infants, were living in overcrowded conditions without adequate sanitation or hygiene facilities as heavy rain and colder temperatures were forecast.

Zimbabwean national Mgcini Sibanda said: “I don’t have documents because it’s too expensive to get them in Zimbabwe.

“When we come here, we also struggle to get work permits.”

Similar scenes unfolded outside the Malawian Consulate in Johannesburg, where hundreds of Malawian nationals also sought assistance to return home before the June 30 deadline.

South African Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Ronald Lamola slammed the actions of the vigilantes.

He said immigration laws should only be enforced by authorised state agencies.

He added: “What is becoming problematic for us internationally is the groups that move from house to house enforcing the law and the violent protests that accost foreign nationals to produce documentation.”

Anti-xenophobia activists gathered outside parliament in Cape Town on Saturday, calling on the government to protect foreign nationals and prosecute individuals accused of inciting or carrying out attacks.

Meanwhile, in the coastal town of Hermanus, police fired stun grenades at around 100 protesters demanding jobs for South Africans ahead of foreign nationals. This came after demonstrators refused orders to surrender weapons.